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MEMOIRS 



OF THE 



COURT AND REIGN 



OF 



CATHERII^E THE SECOIfD, 



WITH 



A BRIEF SURVEY OF THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY; 



EMBBACma THE 



REIGN OF NICHOLAS, EALL OP SEYASTOPOL, ETC. 



BY SAMUEL M. SMUCKER, A. M. 




NEW YORK AND AUBURN: 
MILLEE, ORTON & MULLIGAN. 

New York : 25 Park Eow— Auburn : 107 Genesee-st, 

1855. 






Entered, accorcung to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by 

A. H A R T, 

in the Clerk's Ofl5.ce of the District Court of the United States, 

in and for the Eastern District of Fennsylyania. 



/2^o 

TO 
HON. ROBERT T. OONRAl>, 

OF PHILADELPHIA. 

Deae Sir : — ^To a man of genius and of varied accomplishments, like 
yourself, the achievements of the master spirits of all ages, are an 
attractive and interesting study. Permit me, then, to inscribe the 
following pages to you ; with the hope, that however imperfect the 
execution of the work may be, the intrinsic interest of the theme 
may make amends for it. 

Your obedient servant, 

SAM'L M, SMUCKEE. 
PniLADELPmA, Oct. 20. 1855. 



PREFACE. 

It is universally acknowledged, by those acquainted 
"with her history, that the Empress Catherine II. was 
one of the most remarkable women that ever lived. The 
annals of her Life and Reign are crowded with striking 
incidents, with novel adventures, with wonderful displays 
of talent, heroism, and passion ; and yet, there exists no 
work in our language of an accessible form, in which 
they may be founds Under these circumstances the 
author of this work supposed that a useful niche re- 
mained unfilled in the historical literature of the day, 
which might be appropriated to advantage. 

In narrating the life and career of this extraordinary 
woman, it was impossible to refrain from entering into 
some details, which, while they do not themselves in 
any way oflfend the most rigid modesty, yet describe 



vi PEEFACE. 

events and incidents which are inconsistent with pure 
morality. The fault of this peculiarity of the work, if 
fault it be, does not rest with the historian, who must 
present a faithful picture of the darker, as well as of 
the brighter, aspects of his heroine's life. It results 
alone from the nature of the subject discussed. 

The sources from which the following pages have been 
prepared, are the most valuable and authentic works in 
European literature which treat of this subject. In the 
present publication, everything connected with both the 
public and private life of Catherine II., the truthfulness 
of which could be relied upon, has been introduced. 
Nothing of value, which appertains to the history of 
herself, and of her reign, has been overlooked. It had 
been easy for the author to introduce much gross and in- 
delicate scandal, such as is to be found in some French 
works upon the subject ; but as this work pretends to 
be an authentic and reliable history, such details were 
necessarily excluded. A rigid adherence to facts has 
been retained throughout; nor has the colouring of 
fancy been allowed, in any one instance, to pervert the 
text from the simple truth, for the purpose of presenting 
either a more attractive, or a more startling picture. 

There are certain particular reasons which strongly 



PREFACE. vii 

commend the history of Catherine II. to the attention 
of the reading public, which are applicable to no other 
case. Her history is highly instructive in one sense, 
while it is equally dangerous in another. It is instruc- 
tive, because the theme, the heroine, was a woman of 
extraordinary genius ; an historic meteor, the splendour 
of whose glittering transit across the political heavens 
struck every beholder with awe and wonder. No one 
can peruse that portion of her life without instruction, 
pleasure, and profit. On the other hand, this empress 
was beyond all question, one of the most corrupt, sen- 
sual, and licentious of women. There was no depth or 
excess of impurity which she had not fathomed and 
exhausted. The life of such a living embodiment of 
passion must be injurious in its effects upon the reader, 
unless the narrative is conducted with great prudence 
and discretion. By using the proper precautions ; by 
presenting just as much of the more objectionable as- 
pects of her history as is necessary to obtain a proper 
conception of her character ; by suppressing the rest ; 
and by dwelling more at length upon those traits which 
were pre-eminently noble, commendable, and instructive, 
all the good effects may be attained, and all the evil 
ones avoided. The brilliant achievements of an unsur- 
1* 



Vlll 



PREFACE. 



pased genius will thus become more familiar to the 
world, and secure the praises which they deserve ; 
while the deformities which, like the spots upon the 
sun, unhappily deface and mar its splendor, will be 
allowed to sink harmlessly into that oblivion to which 
the prudence or the charity of mankind has consigned 
them. 

.ISTor is the interest which attaches to the history of 
Catherine II. lessened by a contemplation of the ca- 
reer and characters of her successors to the Russian 
throne. Three of those, Paul, Alexander I., and ISTich- 
olas, have strongly exhibited in their characters and 
conduct the peculiarities of their descent ; and have 
each, by their iron wills, their indomitable perseve- 
rance, their cruelties, and their crimes, left an inef- 
faceable impress upon the world's history. Alexander 
II. has yet to develop his distinctive qualities. He is 
evidently pursuing, with steady and unyielding pur- 
pose, the plan which fired the ambition of Catherine, 
and which has been perse veringly followed by each of 
her successors, in appropriating the dominions of the 
Sultan, and of which the present terrible struggle in 

Europe is one of the unfortunate results. 

S.M.S.. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PECULIARITIES OF RtJSSIAX HISTORY. — ITS DBVELOPEMENT OP GREAT 

CHARACTERS. — BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS SOPHIA OP ANHALT-ZERBST. 

INCIDENTS OF HER YOUTH. — A MARRIAGE PROPOSED BETWEEN HER AND 
PETER FEDOROYITCH, GRAND DUKE OP RUSSIA. — SHE VISITS ST. PETERS- 
BURG. — THE SIARRIA6E SOLEMNIZED. — CHARACTER OP CATHERINE. — 
CHARACTER OP PETER, HER HUSBAND * . . . Page 17 

CHAPTER II. 

DIFFICULTIES COMMENCE BETWEEN CATHERINE AND HER HUSBAND. — 

SHE RESOLVES TO DETHRONE HIM. HER POLICY PETER'S VICES. 

SOLTIKOF. — HIS ATTACHMENT TO CATHERINE. — HER FIRST LOVER. — 
STANISLAUS PONIATOSKY. — CATHERINE'S AFFECTION FOR HIM. — INCIDENTS 
OP THEIE INTRIGUB . 23 

CHAPTER III. 

Peter's purpose to repudiate Catherine, and declare her dau&h- 

TEB illegitimate. — CATHERINE NOW MATURES HER CONSPIRACY.'— 

count panin. — gregory orlof. — death op the empress elizabeth. 
— ^Peter's accession to the throne. — insults offered by peter to 
his wife. — he determines to declare ivan iii. his successor. — 
gregory orlof becomes catherine's favourite. — the princess 
dashkof.-r-od art. -^alexius orlof. — the conspiracy against peter 
i^rst intended only to dethrone him . . • . pag© 35 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

■» • 

PREMATURE EXPLOSION OF THE PLOT. — ^DESPERATE ENERGY AND DETER- 
MINATION OP THE CONSPIRATORS.— CATHERINE BROUGHT TO ST. PETERS- 
BURG. — SHE RECEIVES THfe HOMAGE OP THE TROOPS. — PETER UNINFORMED 
OF THESE TRANSACTIONS AT PETERHOF, WHERE HE WAS RESIDING. — 
THE FIRST NEWS OP THE CONSPIRACY. — OVERCOME WITH TERROR. — FLIES 
TO CRONSTADT. — MARSHAL MUNICH. — PETER GOES TO ORANIENBAUM. — 
HE WRITES TO CATHERINE. — HE WRITES A SECOND MORE SUPPLIANT 
LETTER. — HE ABDICATES THE THRONE. — TRIUMPH OF CATHERINE. — REAC- 
TION OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT. — ^PETER A PRISONER AT ROPSCHA. — HIS 
VIOLENT DEATH 53 

CHAPTER V. 

Peter's private funeral. — Catherine recognised as empress by 
the european powers. — difficulty with the princess dashkop. — 
catherine displays her statesmanship. — confirms the abolition 
op the secret inquisition. — immense advantages offered by her 
to immigration. — project op marrying her favourite, orlof. — ■ 
conspiracy to assassinate him. — affairs of poland. — catherine 
succeeds in placing poniatosky on the polish throne. — her tour 
to courland and esthonia. — conspiracy op mirovitch. — its fail- 
ure. — death of ivan hi. — personal appearance and qualities 
op ivan. — trla.l and punishment op mirovitch and his asso- 
CIATES . 65 

CHAPTER VI. 

CATHERINE PROMOTES THE INTERESTS OP SCIENCE AND LITERATURE. — 
CORRESPONDENCE WITH DIDEROT. — AFFAIRS OF GALLANTRY IN HER 
COURT. — SPLENDID FEATS AND EXHIBITION AT ST. PETERSBURG.— SHE 
REFORMS THE COMPLICATED JURISPRUDENCE OF RUSSIA. — HER COURT 
BECOMES THE ASYLUM OF DISTINGUISHED MEN OF LETTERS. — PARTI- 
TION OF POLAND. — PRINCE HENRY OP PRUSSIA. — HE VISITS CATHERINE. 
— HER FIRST INVASION OP THE TURKISH DOMINIONS. — ROMANTZOF.- — 
HK VANQUISHES THE TURKISH ARMY. — BATTLE OF KAGUL.— CONSPIRACY 



CONTENTS. xi 

AGAINST PONIATOSKY, NOW KING OF POLAND. — ITS FAILURE. — OR- 
LOF's dismissal as imperial FAVOURITE. — VASSILTCHIKOF BECOMES 

FAVOURITE Page 79 



CHAPTER VII. 

DREADFUL SCOURGE WHICH RAVAGED RUSSIA DURING 1771. — ITS DE- 
STRUCTIVE EFFECTS AT MOSCOW. — POPULAR FANATICISM. — MEASURES 

OF RELIEF TAKEN BY CATHERINE. CONDUCT OF ORLOF. — MURDER OF 

ARCHBISHOP AMBROSE. — DECISIVE CONDUCT OF YERAPKIN, THE COM- 
MANDANT. — Catherine's treatment of the princess tarrakannof. — 

INTRIGUE OF ALEXIUS ORLOF. — HER UNHAPPY FATE. — JOURNEY OF 
THE GRAND DUKE OF RUSSIA TO THE COURT OF BERLIN. — HIS ENGAGE- 
MENT TO THE PRINCESS OF HESSE-DARMSTADT. — HIS RETURN TO ST. 
PETERSBURG 95 



CHAPTER Vin. 

MARRIAGE OF CATHERINE'S SON, THE GRAND DUKE. — DIDEROT VISITS ST. 
PETERSRURG. — VOLTAIRE DECLINES CATHERINE'S INVITATION. — CATHE- 
RINE'S INTRIGUES. — HER FEARS OF A CONSPIRACY. — DOWNFALL OF 
VASSILTCHIKOF. — RETURN OF ORLOF TO THE POSITION OF FAVOURITE.— 
CATHERINE EMBELLISHES ST. PETERSBURG. — HER DOMESTIC HABITS. — 
HISTORY OF THE FORMIDABLE CONSPIRACY OP PUGATSCHEF. — ITS OVEB- 
THSOW ll.S 

CHAPTER IX. 

POTEMPKIN BECOMES FAVOURITE. — HIS IMPRUDENCE AND DISMISSAL. — THE 
POSITIO/T OF FAVOURITE PECULIAR TO THE RUSSIAN SOVEREIGNS. — OB- 
SERVANCES ON THE ELEVATION AND CHOICE OP A FAVOURITE. — HIS 
HONOURS AND EMOLUMENTS. — MODE OP HIS DISMISSAL. — POTEMPKIN REIN- 
STATED AS FAVOURITE. — HIS ATTEMPT TO INDUCE CATHERINE TO MARRY 
HIM. — SHE SUBDIVIDES HER EMPIRE INTO VICE-ROYALTIES. — ZAVADOSKY 
BECOMES FAVOURITE, AND POTEMPB^N PRIMS MINISTER. — ^ENUMERATION 
OP CATHERINE'S FAMILY Page 127 



^ii CONTENTS. 

< 

CHAPTER X. 

SPLENDOUR OF THE COURT OF ST. PETERSBURG AT THIS TIME. — VISIT OF 

THE CELEBRATED DUCHESS OF KINGSTON TO ST. PETERSBURG. SHE 

DECLINES IN CATHERINE'S FAVOUR, AND RETIRES IN DISGUST TO ROME. 

— Catherine's literary productions. — zoritch becomes favourite. 

he is dismissed. — korsakof succeeds him. — his ignorance and 

vanity. — his dismissal. — lanskoi becomes favourite. — journey to 

143 



HOHILEF 



CHAPTER XI. 

CATHERINE'S MEASURES TO PROMOTE THE ADVANCEMENT OF LITERATURE 
THROUGHOUT HER DOMINIONS. — THE CULTIVATION OF THE NATIONAL LAN- 
GUAGE. THE STUDY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES. OF ANCIENT LITERA- 
TURE. — OF BELLES-LETTRES. — WRITINGS OF KNAISHIN — OF DERSCHAVIN — 
OF KHERASKOF — OF VAN WISIN. — CATHERINE'S GREAT MERITS AS A 
PATRONESS OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE 166 

CHAPTER XII. 

DIPLOMATIC INTERCOURSE OF CATHERINE WITH FREDERIC THE GREAT. — 
DANTZIC. — WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND THE NETHERLANDS. — PROJECT 
OF OPENING THE NAVIGATION OP THE SCHELDT. — ARGUMENTS ON BOTH 
SIDES OP THE QUESTION. — BREAKING OUT OP HOSTILITIES. — INTERFERENCE 
OF OTHER EUROPEAN POWERS. — SETTLEMENT OP THE DISPUTE BY NEGO- 
TIATION Page 163 

CHAPTER Xm. 

BOBRINSKY, CATHERINE'S NATURAL SON. — HIS ABANDONED CHARACTER. — 
THE COLOSSAL STATUE OF PETER THE GREAT AT ST. PETERSBURG. — 
HISTORY OF ITS ERECTION. — CATHERINE CONQUERS THE CRIMEA. — HER 
TREATY WITH GUSTAVUS III. OF SWEDEN. — HER WAR WITH THE TURKS. 
GREGORY ORLOF.- — BEZROBODKO. — LANSKOI. — HIS SUDDEN DEATH. — 
CATHERINE'S INCONSOLABLE GRIEF. — AFFECTING INCIDENT AFTER HIS 
DEATH 171 



CONTENTS. jjjii 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SECRET MARRIAGE OF CATHERINE TO POTEMPKIN. — YERMOLOP BECOMES 

FAVOURITE. HIS INGRATITUDE TO CATHERINE. — YERMOLOF DISMISSED.— 

MOMONOF BECOMES FAVOURITE. — CATHERINE PURCHASES VOLTAIRE'S 
LIBRARY. — HER CELEBRATED JOURNEY TO THE CRIMEA. — THE PRINCE 
DE LIGNE. — WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY. — WAR WITH SWEDEN. 
— CATHERINE VICTORIOUS AGAINST BOTH . . . . . 184 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OP OTCHAKOF. — SUWARROP AND REPNIN. — 'THE 
RUSSIANS TAKE TUTUKAY. — ISMAIL. — PRESENTS OF CATHERINE TO HER 
VICTORIOUS GENERALS. — DISMISSAL OF MOMONOF. — ZUBOP BECOMES 
FAVOURITE. — HIS FAMILY. — SINGULAR DEATH OF POTEMPKIN . 200 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE EMPRESS PROPOSES TO PURCHASE VOLTAIRE's LIBRARY. — SHE OBTAINS 
IT.— SHE SENDS AN EXPLORING EX^DITION TO THE NORTHERN ARCHI- 
PELAGO. — ANOTHER TO THE CAUCASUS. — ANOTHER TO JAPAN. — AND AN- 
OTHER TO CHINA. — HER TRANSACTIONS WITH THE TURKS. — POTEMPKIN 
AGAIN. — HIS ECCENTRICITIES. — HIS MENTAL QUALITIES. — HIS VAST WEALTH. 
— HIS ABSOLUTE INFLUENCE OVER CATHERINE. — HIS PHYSICAL APPEAR- 
AKCP. — ^ADAPTED TO GOVERN NO OTHER COUNTRY BUT RUSSIA Page 211 

CHAPTER XVII. 

the duchy op courland. — history of the country. — morals of the 
people.— their mode of government.— catherine determines to 

annex the duchy to her dominions. her political intrigues. 

she succeeds in her purpose. — catherine's attention to the reli- 
gious interests of her people. — the improvement op her capital. 

inundations op st. petersburg. — her precautionary measures. — 
Various details op her administration .... 230 



xiv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

CATHERINE AS A DIPLOMATIST. — HER RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. — HER MEASTTRES 
FOB THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION. — SHE ESTABLISHES HER LOAN 
BANE. — "THE COURT OF CONSCIENCE." — HER IMPROVEMENTS IN RUSSIAN 

JURISPRUDENCE. COM. PAUL JONES. — THE GREEK REVOLUTION. — FAILURE 

OF THEIR REVOLT 241 



CHAPTER XIX.„ 



FINAL DISMEMBERMENT OF POLAND RESOLVED UPON BY CATHERINE AND 
HER COURTIERS. — THE KING OF PRUSSIA UNITES WITH CATHERINE IN THIS 
PROJECT. — POLISH STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. — KOSCIUSKO. — HEROIC BUT 
FUTILE STRUGGLES OP THE POLES. — KOSCIUSKO DEFENDS WARSAW. — HE 
IS TAKEN PRISONER. — SENT TO ST. PETERSBURG. — ASSASSINATION OP GUS- 
TAVUS in. OF SWEDEN. — DEATH OF JOSEPH IL OF AUSTRIA. — CATHERINE 
DETERMINES ON HER FINAL INVASION OF TURKEY AND ASSAULT OF CON- 
STANTINOPLE. — HER SUDDEN DEATH. — THE GRAND DUKE SUCCEEDS TO 
THE RUSSIAN THRONE. — EXAMINATION OF CATHERINE'S CHARACTER AND 
MERITS . 259 

CHAPTER XX. 
BRIEF SURVEY OF THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 

ACCESSION OF PAULL HIS ECCENTRICITIES. HIS FAMILY. HIS ASSASSINA- 
TION. ^ALEXANDER I. ASCENDS THE THRONE. HIS CHARACTER. BIS CON- 
NECTION WITH NAPOLEON. HIS DEATH THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE. 

ACCESSION OF NICHOLAS L ^HIS CHARACTER AND AMBITIOUS AIMS. THE 

CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE. THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA. DEATH OF 

NICHOLAS. ACCESSION OF ALEXANDER II. HIS CHARACTER. OTHER MEM- 
BERS OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY. CONCLUSION. . . . 2*73 



HISTORY 



OF 



CATHERINE IL 



CHAPTEK I. 

PECULIARITIES OF RUSSIAN HISTORY. — ITS DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT 
CHARACTERS. — BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS SOPHIA OF ANHALT-ZERBST. — 
INCIDENTS OF HER YOUTH. — A MARRIAGE PROPOSED BETWEEN HER 
AND PETER FEDORQVITCH, GRAND DUKE OF RUSSIA. — SHE VISITS 
ST. PETERSBURG. — THE MARRIAGE SOLEMNIZED. — CHARACTER OF 
CATHERINE. — CHARACTER OF PETER, HER HUSBAND. 

Although Russia assumed her rank and position among 
European nations at a comparatively recent period, yet, during 
her short career, she has developed some of the most remark- 
able characters that ever existed; and has displayed a progress 
in political grandeur, supremacy, and power, which has few 
parallels in human history. It may with truth he said, that 
everything connected with that country has heen, in some 

measure, unique and remarkable. It is vast in its extent; 
2 (17) 



18 HISTORY OF CATHEKINE H. 

enclosing within its far-reaching arms half a continent. It 
has been vast in its antique barbarism and rugged simplicity; 
mighty in its numerical strength and physical grandeur; stupen- 
dous in its military struggles and achievements ; as well as in 
the vaulting ambition of its sovereigns, which would add to 
the immense empire of the Czars, the dominion of Asia, and 
the conquest of the throne of the Constantines. The personal 
history of some of its princes has been characterized by a 
degree of sanguinary ferocity, and an excessive voluptuousness, 
which have a parallel only in the history of the Neros and the 
Messalinas of antiquity ; while the career of others has exhi- 
bited a grandeur and elevation of character, which have justly 
won for them the immortal epithet of The Great. It was in 
such a country, and among such a people, that Catherine II., 
one of the most remarkable women of any age, was called, by 
the force of circumstances, to run her memorable career. 

Sophia Frederica Augusta, the subject of this history, 
was the daughter of Christian Augustus, Prince of Anhalt- 
Zerbst, and was born at Stettin, in Prussian Pomerania, in 
May, 1729 ; four years after the death of Peter the Great, 
and two years after that of the first Catherine. In her youth, 
she was brought up in the simplest manner; and good-humour, 
intelligence, and decision were even then the striking features 
of her character. After she became sovereign of the Russian 
empire, she recollected the days and the scenes of her youtli 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE IT. 19 

with pleasure ; and annually sent to the chief magistrate of 
Stettin, the medals which she caused to be struck in com- 
memoration of the events of her reign, both those in gold and 
in silver. 

The princess Sophia lived until her fifteenth year, alternately 
in Stettin or in Zerbst. She occasionally visited Hamburg 
with her mother ; while, at other times, she spent her summers 
at Brunswick and Berlin. In 1743 she was introduced into 
the Lutheran Church, at the desire of her mother, by the 
court-preacher Dov^, at Brunswick; though, as will soon 
appear, *she easily changed her religion, as policy rather than 
conviction afterward dictated. She was one year younger than 
Peter Fedorovitch, the heir apparent to the Russian throne ; and 
a marriage was decided upon, by their respective families, 
between that prince and Sophia of Zerbst. Upon the occur- 
rence of that event, she adopted the Greek religion, and 
assumed the name of Catherina Alexievna, which she after- 
ward rendered illustrious by her genius, her passions, and her 
vicissitudes. This match was brought about by the intrigues 
and the influence of Frederic, King of Prussia, who saw in 
that alliance a prop to the security of his own throne ; and 
an invitation was sent to the Princess of Zerbst, the mother 
of Catherine, by Elizabeth, the then reigning sovereign, to visit 
the court of St. Petersburg, bringing her daughter, the future 
empreis, with her. She immediately complied, and it was 



20 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

supposed that an attacliment sprang up between the youthful 
princess and Peter, the heir apparent, which would render 
their future alliance as agreeable to their inclinations, as it was 
subservient to the policy of their respective families. The 
marriage was accordingly celebrated; and the enamoured 
princes appeared to present so strong an instance of conjugal 
attachment, as to secure a long continuance of harmony and 
affection. But their love was destined to be of short duration, 
though Catherine supported an outward show of good under- 
standing with her silly and eccentric husband, as long as she 
conceived such a semblance necessary to her ambitious pur- 
poses. 

The respective characters of these two persons, so unfortu- 
nately brought and linked together, were each peculiar in 
themselves ; and were as incongruous and incompatible with 
each other, as could possibly be imagined. Catherine was a 
woman of great natural talents; quick, penetrative, crafty, 
ambitious, and unscrupulous. Brought up and educated near 
the court of the great Frederic, she had been taught to look 
upon him as the perfect model of a sovereign, who could 
sacrifice every person and principle, however sacred or dear, 
to the accomplishment of his ambitious aims. She was taught 
to admire the fertility of his resources, the energy of his 
measures, and the deepness and craftiness of his policy. Her 
own education had been carefully attended to, and her naturally 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 21 

strong and masculine mind had been trained and developed 
with all the suitable learning and accomplishments of the age. 
She entered, therefore, upon her new and exalted arena of 
action fully armed, and prepared to achieve a memorable 
career. 

Nor was her husband, Peter, absolutely devoid of talent, but 
his education had been totally neglected. His disposition was 
good, but his mind was uncultivated, and he was not only 
destitute of scientific acquirements, but his knowledge of men 
and of public affairs was limited and meagre in the extreme. 
He constantly felt the superiority of his more gifted spouse, 
whose mental qualities were not only far higher than his own, 
but her physical advantages far greater. Peter was forbidding 
in his appearance, and almost deformed; while Catherine, in 
her youth, possessed a handsome, intelligent countenance, with 
a graceful and beautifully proportioned figure. The inferiority 
of her husband to herself was the first cause of the dislike and 
aversion which sprang up between them, and which afterward 
led to results, so fatal and disastrous to the prince. 

Shortly after his marriage, the Empress presented Peter 
with the palace of Oranienbaum, which had formerly belonged 
to the famous Mentchikof. This palace was at some distance 
from St. Petersburg, situated on the romantic. coast of the Grulf 
of Finland. It was built upon an eminence, formed by suc- 
cessive terraces ascending from the shore. It commanded a 
2* 



22 HISTORY OF CATHERINE XL 

beautiful prospect of the wide waste of waters of the Gulf, 
and the shipping at Cronstadt. It contained a chapel^ and 
some of the apartments were splendidly fitted up. It was 
here that Peter, when Grand Duke, delighted to retire from 
the distractions of the court, and his domestic infelicities, to 
divert himself with rural sports, and the training of the few 
troops which he retained around him. His frequent retirement 
to this spot, and his consequent absence from the capital, 
afforded facilities for the execution of the plot, which, even at 
the time of which we are now speaking, had already struggled 
into an incipient existence. 



CHAPTER II. 

DIFFICULTIES COMMENCE BETWEEN CATHERINE AND HER HUSBAND. — 
SHE RESOLVES TO DETHRONE HIM.— HER POLICY. — PETER's VICES. — 
SOLTIKOE. — HIS ATTACHMENT TO CATHERINE. — HER FIRST LOVER. — 
STANISLAUS PONIATOSKY. — CATHERINE'S AFFECTION FOR HIM. — INCI- 
DENTS OF THEIR INTRIGUE. 

Peter, the heir apparent, was the nephew of Elizabeth, the 
then reigning sovereign of Russia. This princess had imbibed 
the notion that Peter was possessed of extraordinary capacity, 
and, ever since she had nominated him as her successor, had 
encouraged him in those habits of idleness which wholly un- 
j&tted him for his future position. Already Catherine began 
to conceive the outlines of that destiny which she afterward 
achieved; and began laying her plans, by renderiug Peter ob- 
noxious in every way to the courtiers and people. She found 
a most expert and appropriate minister of her nefarious designs, 
in Bestuchef, at that time Great Chancellor of the empire ; / 
who from the very day of the Grand Duke's marriage, had I 
formed the design of excluding him from the throne, or at " 
least of placing Catherine so completely at the head of affairs, 
as to render her husband's power utterly insignificant. 

Having matured his plan, Bestuchef communicated hie 

(28) 



24 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

projects to several of tlie courtiers in whom he could confide. 
His emissaries endeavoured to render the G-rand Duke con- 
temptible in the eyes of Elizabeth, by magnifying his defects 
and aggravating his vices. They even endeavoured to excite 
her fears, that he would become dangerous to her authority in 
the government. The feeble-minded Elizabeth was easily 
persuaded of the truth of these charges, and soon learned to 
hate and abhor the unhappy being, whom she once admired 
and cherished. 

Peter indulged in a strong partiality for everything Prus- 
sian, resulting from his enthusiasm for the sovereign of that 
country, Frederic the Grreat. Even this innocent peculiarity 
of the prince was perverted by his enemies in the court, to 
his prejudice with the Empress. At his country palace of 
Oranienbaum, whither he often went in the pursuit of his 
pleasures, Peter introduced the Prussian customs of smoking, 
drinking, and gaming. His troops were dressed in Prussian 
uniforms, and manoeuvred according to Prussian tactics. 
These and other peculiarities of his conduct excited, as his 
enemies intended they should, the suspicion and dislike of the 
Empress EKzabeth. 

jCatherine, on the other hand, pursued an entirely different 
course. Gruided by her mother and her friends, at the Rus- 
sian court, she was skilfully laying her plans, and endeavour- 
ing to gain partisans among the most influential persons of the 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 25 

empire. Her violent predisposition to pleasure, which had 
already been powerfully, though secretly, developed, was silent 
and quiescent, at the mightier and more urgent calls of ambi- 
tion. The value of these long and deeply laid intrigues after- 
ward appeared, when the decisive moment arrived to consum- 
mate her purposes. 

"AH the young men who surrounded and associated with the 
Grand Duke Peter, were not as entirely devoted to the plea- 
sures of the table, the play, and the military parade, as him- 
self. One of them, at least, was much admired for the graces 
of his person, and was distinguished, also, for his accomplished 
and successful gallantry. This was Soltikof, the prince's 
chamberlain. He had been a favourite among the ladies of 
the court; but now he dared to raise his aspiring eyes to the 
Grand Duchess herself, and attempted, not in vain, to win her 
affections. Catherine soon became sensible to his delicate at- 
tentions. His elegant figure, and the grace of his manner, for 
which he is said to have been remarkable, made an impression 
on her mind, and won him her love. 

When Peter and his wife spent the summer at Oranienbaum, f 
Soltikof never failed to make one of the party. On one of / 
these occasions, the Grand Duchess feigned indisposition as an ' 
excuse for her absence from a ball given to the Prince's friends ; 
and so infatuated was Peter in regard to his wife's fidelity, 
that he engaged Soltikof to amuse her loneliness, and to' exert 



96 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

himself to divert and cheer her solitude. This was precisely 
what the two lovers desired ; and it may easily be imagined 
that they turned the fleeting moments to good account. 

But so violent was Catherine's passion for her youthful, 
favourite, that she had not sufficient self-command to conceal 
it from the prying and envious eyes of the jealous courtiers 
who surrounded them. Soon information was carried to the 
Empress Elizabeth, of this amour ; and the ruin of Soltikof 
seemed inevitable. Though the Empress herself had her own 
intrigues, she was not bound to overlook or forgive those of 
her, whose offspring was to succeed her upon the throne. 
Soltikof boldly breasted the storm. He sought an interview 
with the Grrand Duke. He represented to him how he had 
only waited on the princess in accordance with his own com- 
mands ; and that her apparent partiality for him, was only the 
consequence of her gratitude for his efforts to relieve the tedium 
of her indisposition and solitude ; that the whole slander was 
the mere offspring of the jealousy or envy of his private ene- 
mies. . 

Soltikof succeeded in completely imposing upon the credu- 
lity of the Grand Duke. The latter even ordered him to re- 
main about the person of his wife, and in an audience with the 
Empress he complained of the infamous reports which had 
been spread about, and himself defended Soltikof with such 
vehemence, as completely to win over the confidence of Eliza- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 27 

beth. Henceforth the lovers indulged without apprehension, 
and scarcely without restraint, those pleasures from the con- 
sequences of which they now seemed to have nothing to dread. 

During 1754 the progress of time, which enfeebles and 
often extinguishes the most ardent passions, failed to diminish 
that of Catherine. She expected soon to become a mother. 
Soltikof was daily becoming more powerful in his influence 
over her ; but his star had culminated, and he became himself 
the artificer of his own downfall. 

He had unfortunately incurred the enmity of Bestuchef, the 
all-powerful Grand Chancellor of the empire, who thereupon 
resolved to effect his ruin. To accomplish this purpose, the wily 
minister pretended the greatest friendship for the favourite ; 
asked his advice in reference to important affairs of state ; and 
communicated to him some of the most delicate political and 
cabinet secrets. The confidence of Soltikof was completely 
won, and his caution disarmed. In a moment of thoughtless 
and fatal confidence, he divulged to Bestuchef the secret 
of his connexion with the G-rand Duchess. No sooner was 
this communication made, than the minister revealed it to the 
Prince and the Empress. All efforts to save Soltikof were 
now fruitless; tears and protestations were alike unavailing, 
and the fallen favourite was ordered to a perpetual exile- 
not to Siberia indeed, as he might have been — ^but to Ham- 
burg; yet far removed from the tender embraces and the 
B 



28» HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

fostering care of her, of whose heart he had once been the 
haughty and undisputed sovereign. Thus ends the brief 
record of the first of those numerous connexions, which gave 
so peculiar as well as so repulsive an aspect to the life and 
career of this remarkable woman. 

No sooner had the last tender adieux taken place between 
the distracted lovers, than the Russian court was visited by a 
personage who was soon destined to indemnify Catherine for 
the loss of her lover, and heal up the wounds of her lacerated 
heart. Yet he was but one of a long series of successful 
aspirants, who in turn enjoyed the benefits of her partiality. 

This fortunate individual was Count Stanislaus Poniatosky, 
whose father was an adventurer in Lithuania, and who, for 
some valuable political services, obtained promotion from 
Augustus II., King of Poland. In 1755 the young count 
visited St. Petersburg. He was destitute of fortune, but was 
endowed with a handsome figure and a high ambition. Some 
years he had spent in France and Germany, in the pursuit of 
gay adventures and vague expectations. In Paris, the friend- 
ship of the Swedish ambassador had procured him distinguished 
connexions j but his extravagances there had brought him to 
prison for debt, from which he had been relieved by the gene- 
rosity of one of his female admirers, Madame Geoffrin. Ponia- 
tosky, on leaving Paris, repaired to London, where he met Sir 
Charles Williams, whom he had formerly known at Warsaw ; 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 29 

and who being appointed, by the court of St. James, ambassa- 
dor to St. Petersburg, engaged the handsome and adventurous 
Pole to accompany him thither. He was by nature gay, wittyT] 
and fascinating, and being thrown into society with the sus- 
ceptible Duchess Sophia, the future Empress, he soon perceived 
the impression which he had involuntarily made upon her. 
For some time the two lovers conversed only by their looks, 
but soon they declared, upon the first favourable opportunity, 
their mutual attachment, and sought for the means of indulg- 
ing their inclinations : and it would have been singular had 
they not succeeded ! 

But the ever restless eyes of envious rivals had not been 
closed upon their conduct, and the Empress Elizabeth was 
soon informed, by their officious interference, of this new 
connexion. She gave orders to Poniatosky to quit Russia / 
without delay. He obeyed. But Catherine was not the 
woman to be thwarted thus a second time, in the greatest, and 
now, the most imperious necessity of her existence — to love 
and to be loved. She cast about her for means to remedy the 
calamity under which she suffered. She thought of Bestuchef, 
the Grand Chancellor, stili, as formerly, the most powerful 
subject in the empire. With his usual sagacity this minister 
had discovered, that though he might banish lovers, and even 
render the Grand Duke Peter a cipher at the court, Catherine 
was a woman of such stupendous vigour of mind and resolu- 



30 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

tion of purpose, that she was a match in statesmanship even 
for himself J that it would be unsafe to attempt to thwart her, 
much less to vanquish her ; and that he was strengthening his 
own pathway to future influence by assisting her in her, pur- 
poses, and rendering himself as indispensable to her as pos- 
sible. 

He immediately endeavoured to promote the Grand Duchess's 
wishes, by using the influence of Count De Briihl, the minis- 
ter of the Polish sovereign. He became the patron of Ponia- 
tosky, and at length succeeded in obtaining for his protege, 
the important appointment of minister from the Polish King, 
to the court of St. Petersburg. Then commenced that career 
of successful love, which, by its stupendous energy, finally 
elevated its happy subject to the splendid dignity of the Polish 
throne. Poniatosky was never absent from her. To him she 
devoted all her time, and she made so little secrecy of this 
unlawful attachment, that the public opinion of even the 
dissipated capital of the Czars was loud in her censure. In 
February, 1758, she was delivered of the princess Anne, who 
only survived fifteen months. 

As is often .the case, the injured husband was the only per- 
son at court who was unconscious of his wrongs, and was 
ignorant of his Duchess's conduct. But it is unreasonable to 
suppose that his infatuation could last for ever. The un- 
welcome light at length broke in upon the Grand Duke's 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 31 

mind ; and that under the following circumstances. The 
prince was informed of the secret interviews which took place 
between the lovers ; he was also convinced that Bestuchef the 
Grand Chancellor, was the patron of those intrigues, and that 
it was to his skilful management, that he owed his injuries 
and his disgrace. He communicated these facts to the Empress 
Elizabeth. Incensed at the treachery of Bestuchef, she gave 
immediate orders for his arrest. The fallen minister passed at 
once from the dizzy height of absolute power, to degradation and 
captivity : he whose nod, an hour since, had shaken all Russia, 
and before whcrm the proudest courtiers and grandees had 
bent with profoundest reverence j who had commanded the 
obedience of vast armies, and disposed of the resources of 
mighty provinces, — was arrested, deprived of his dignities and 
his princely fortune, was pronounced guilty of high treason, 
and condemned to death. His sentence, however, was after- 
ward changed to banishment to one hundred and twenty 
versts from Moscow. Yorontzof succeeded him as Grand 
Chancellor. 

Catherine herself was now overwhelmed with affliction. [ 
But powerful minds rehound from an error or a misfortune, 
with a foroe proportionate to that which impelled them to it ; 
and possess a self-sustaining energy, which enables them to 
defy a calamity beneath the weight of which, weaker minds 



32 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

would sink. Catherine never for a moment lost her courage, 
though much distressed. Her first attempts to gain an audi- 
ence with the Empress Elizabeth, which had been boldly made, 
were unavailing. She was refused all access to her ; and she 
had, for a time, to endure the hatred of her husband, the dis- 
pleasure of the Empress, the insults of the subservient court ; 
and, what was to her most distressing of all, the fear of losing 
for ever the society and the embraces of her beloved Poniatosky. 
] The meetings of the lovers were then held under the mantle 
of night; and very frequently, Catherine, properly disguised 
as a peasant girl, would leave the palace by a'secret door, and 
Dalolio, an Italian comedian, would conduct her safely to the 
house of M. Yelaguin, a Frenchman, in the confidence and 
service of Poniatosky, where the latter received her. The 
ever wakeful eyes of suspicion and malice were continually 
on the alert, and discovered, at length, even this retreat. The 
Empress was duly informed of the occurrence. 

But Catherine's mental resources proved themselves equal 
to the task which she had to perform. She bribed the mis- 
tress of the Grand Duke, her husband ; and by her influence, 
Poniatosky, who had himself been arrested, was set at liberty. 
She demanded from the Empress permission immediately to 
retire to G-ermany. As her character and actions were only 
aspersed in her adopted country, she would for ever desert 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 33 

and abandon so ungrateful, so inhospitable a land and court. 
This last appeal had the desired effect. Her son, Paul Petro- 
vitch, who afterwards ascended the throne, was the darling 
and favourite of the Empress; who would not allow the 
departure of the mother of a child whom she loved, and whose 
legitimacy might afterwards be called in question, in conse- 
quence of her flight. The Empress forgave her ; forbade her 
to return to Germany, reinstated her in her dignities and 
honours ; and to the astonishment of the whole court, appeared 
with her niece in the imperial box in the theatre, where she 
carefully drew upon her the notice of the audience by her 
kind assiduities and friendly attentions. But no present re- 
verse of fortune, no peril nor danger, could as yet dampen the 
ardour of the lovers ; though it inspired within them a greater 
caution, as well as artifice : yet it is an instructive incident in 
the history of the human mind, that these two devoted per- 
sons, after the lapse of many years, and the experience of 
many of the vicissitudes of fortune, met upon the distant 
shores of the Euxine Sea, the one as Empress of Russia, th& 
other as King of Poland, to which high dignity he had been 
elevated by her own youthful affection and partiality : — they 
met, and in the presence of their respective su'jU,!/, held a cold, 
jealous, and hostile interview ! What a commentary on the 
>athfulness of even woman's love ! How evanescent may be 



54 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11 

even the most powerful and romantic of human attachments I 
How wisely and truly did Solomon, the Jewish Solon, who 
had fully tested and exhausted the most exquisite of human 
pleasures, pronounce them, after all, to be but vanity and 
vexation I 



CHAPTER III. 

Peter's pubpose to repudiate Catherine, and declare her 
daughter illegitimate. — catherine now matures her con- 
spiracy. — count panin. — gregory orlof. — death of the em- 
PRESS ELIZABETH. — PETER's ACCESSION TO THE THRONE. — INSULTS 
OFFERED BY PETER TO HIS WIFE. — HE DETERMINES TO DECLARE 
IVAN III. HIS SUCCESSOR. — GREGORY ORLOF BECOMES CATHERINE'S 

FAVOURITE. — THE PRINCESS DASHKOF. ODART. — ALEXIUS ORLOF. — 

THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST PETER FIRST INTENDED ONLY TO DE- 
THRONE HIM. 

Perils, of a less romantic cliaracter began, in the year 1762, 
to surround Catherine. The party of her friend and patron 
Bestuchef, was in ruins. His successor, Vorontzof, was a 
bold and ambitious man, not devoid of energy and talent. 
His daughter was publicly acknowledged as the mistress of 
the Grand Duke; which disgraceful connexion he himself ap- 
proved and promoted. The access which he had to the G-rand 
Duke, gave him many opportunities to exasperate him against 
his wife ; and suggested to his wounded mind many thoughts, 
fatal to her interests, her security, and her happiness. He at 
length completely controlled and overpowered Peter's mind ; 
and under his influence as well as that of his mistress, 

he had come to the conclusion, that the instant the Empress 
B^- (35; 



36 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Elizabeth had expired, he would assemble the troops; cause 
himself to be proclaimed Emperor ; repudiate and divorce the 
Grrand Duchess ; declare the young Paul Petrovich illegitimate, 
as certainly he was ; and publicly marry his mistress, Elizaveta 
Yorontzof. 

But Catherine, with her usual ability, opposed the plot 
which threatened her, by a counterplot equally formidable. 
Being now on good terms with the Empress, she employed 
her emissaries in poisoning the mind of that weak and aged 
princess against the Grand Duke, and thus, by surrounding 
him with peril, compel him to seek his own safety in concilia- 
tion with herself. Catherine's most important agent in this 
intrigue was Count Panin, who had lately returned from Stock- 
holm, where he had resided in a diplomatic capacity ; and who 
afterward for many years served Catherine faithfully and well, 
as her prime minister. By his able efforts the mind of the 
Empress became so alienated from the Grand Duke, that he 
had for some time been entirely excluded from her presence. 
He saw the danger which overhung him, of being excluded 
entirely from the throne, on the death of the Empress, whose 
last sickness had then already begun ; and who was confined 
by it to her own apartment. He knew that his wife had the 
confidence of the Empress, and that it was through her alone 
that a reconciliation could take place. Catherine, to accom- 
plish her own ends, was not unwilling for the present, to ac- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 37 

quiesce in the proposals made by her husband for an accom- 
modation. Upon suitable assurances being made her, that 
all hostile measures against herself should be abandoned, she 
agreed to. act with the Grand Duke for their iKLutual interests. 
The plan devised to win back the good will of her, upon whom 
the succession of both to the throne depended, was to engage 
the services of the dying Empress's confessor. A moment 
was chosen when she seemed propitious to any tender emotion. 
The bribed confessor, approaching the couch of Elizabeth, dis- 
coursed to her calmly and eloquently of heavenly things ; and 
of the Supreme and Eternal Sovereign by whom all earthly 
Monarchs reign. He spoke of his infinite justice, his wisdom, 
his mercy ; and of that august tribunal, before which they 
alone can obtain forgiveness hereafter, who themselves forgive. 
He then dwelt upon the ecstatic joys of that immortal Paradise 
to which they are admitted, who fulfil this duty of mercy, and 
thus obey the divine example and commands of Him, who 
dwelt among men, himself a Sovereign and a Grod, to Hless, 
to save, and to die for them. At this critical moment, when 
the weak, yet excited, fancy of the Empress was favourably 
disposed, in view of such satisfactory rewards, to acts of 
benevolence and duty, the Grand Duke and Duchess, hand in 
hand, entered the apartment, and fell upon their knees at her 
bedside. Elizabeth was surprised and overcome; she told 
them, with emotion, that she had always loved them, and that 



38 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

with her dying breath she wished them every blessing. The 
reconciliation was complete. 

Shortly after this important event, the Grand Duke received 
word that his aunt, the Empress Elizabeth, ^^ commanded him 
to live long," or in other words, that she had expired. This 
event occurred on the 5th of January, 1762. 

Immediately upon her death, the Grand Duke assumed the 
title of Peter III. But there were none of those happy dis- 
plays of joy which the populace usually exhibit upon the 
accession to the throne of a youthful prince. His first acts 
were imprudent ; for, instead of hastening his coronation at 
Moscow, which was of the utmost importance to establishing 
him upon the throne, he talked of visiting Germany, and 
paying his respects to the great Frederic. Yet, to say truth, 
he was not at first sanguinary in the exercise of his power ; 
he did not wreak his vengeance upon his enemies : yet in his 
first manifesto he said nothing of his consort, nor of his 
reputed son ; — of itself a suspicious and mysterious circum- 
stance. 

The new Czar, on his first accession to the throne, invited 
the foreign ministers to his audience, and received their con- 
gratulations with the dignity which became a prince. This 
appropriate behaviour, which was entirely in opposition to the 
idea which had been universally entertained of the character 
of the Grand Duke, surprised them. But what astonished 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 89 

them still more, was the fact, that in a splendid repast which 
he gave them, he behaved with great propriety ; was reserved 
and impressive in his discourse, and drank with great mode- 
ration. In a word, every one expressed astonishment and 
pleasure, at the improvement which they observed in the prince, 
at once so commendable and so unexpected. 

It was impossible, however, for him to conceal the great 
admiration which he entertained for the King of Prussia, the 
immortal Frederic. He set at liberty all the Prussian prison- 
ers who were confined at St. Petersburg, and admitted them 
to his table. One of them whom he treated with the greatest 
respect was the Count de Hordt ; a Swedish officer, who had 
entered into the service of Frederic, and whom Elizabeth had 
detained three years in exile. The King of Prussia had 
caused a Russian officer to be broken alive on the wheel, for 
forming a plot of revolt, and planning a massacre of the garri- 
son at Custrin, where he had been kept a prisoner. When 
Hordt appeared before Peter III. and related to him that, 
independently of the ill-treatment he .had received in prison, 
by the order of Elizabeth, he was also deprived of the use of 
books, Catherine, who was present, exclaimed : " That was 
very barbarous !'^ Peter took him into his confidence ; made 
him his friend, and delighted to hear from him, details of the 
private life and personal history of his favourite hero. But 
he rarely invited the foreign ministers to his court, excepting 



40 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

the Prussian Envoy, and the British Minister. Peter had 
long kept up a close correspondence with Frederic, whom he 
always addressed as his dear brother, or as his worthy master. 
He reminded him, in one of his letters, that previous to his 
being elected Grrand Duke, he had enjoyed the high honour 
of serving in the army, and even went so far as to ask the 
Prussian monarch to advance him to a higher military rank. 

Frederic, as might be supposed, very cunningly took advan- 
tage of the enthusiasm of the Russian autocrat, for the pro- 
motion of his own personal interests. He did not immediately 
bestow upon Peter the rank which he solicited, that he might 
induce him to desire it the more eagerly ; and thus entertain 
a higher estimate of the value of the honour when conferred. 
But after due time, he wrote him in reply, that he had appoint- 
ed him Major-G-eneral; not in his quality as prince, but only 
on account of the military skill which he believed him to 
possess. This pretended and empty compliment filled the 
siUy prince with joy. He was thenceforth a still more ardent 
admirer of the King of Prussia than ever before. He caused 
his portrait to be placed in his chamber, and celebrated his 
military promotion by a feast of great splendour at St. Peters- 
burg. He almost seemed crazed by the insane ecstasy pro- 
duced by this new honour. \^He said one day, to the hetman 
Razumosky, '^ Do you know, that before I was Grand Duke, 
I was lieutenant in the service of the King of Prussia !" 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 41 

*^ Well," replied the hardy and satirical old Cossack ; ^^ your 
majesty may now make the King of Prussia, a field-mar- 
shal !" 

This ascendency of the King of Prussia over the weak 
mind of the Czar, was displeasing, not only to the foreign 
ministers, who resided at his court, but also to all his own 
subjects. His changes, produced by his Prussian infatuation, 
caused him many enemies. It injured his best plans ; and, 
his desire for making improvements as an imitator of the 
King of Prussia, which were not always suited to the peculiar 
genius and character of the Russian nation, led him often into 
innovations of the most injurious and undesirable nature. 
He took the vast possessions of the Greek Church, and turned 
them into domains of the Crown. He compelled the clergy to 
live on yearly salaries, varying from five thousand to one hundred 
and fifty rubles. It was very unpolitic in him, at the com- 
mencement of his reign, to array against him the most power- 
ful interest in the state, — that which, in all monarchical 
governments, is represented by the established church and 
religion. But especially in Russia, where the ignorance and 
the superstition of the people were commensurate, it was exceed- 
ingly unwise in a youthful sovereign, who had not yet become 
firmly established upon his throne, to imitate, in so dangerous 
and delicate a matter, the high-handed measure of so daring 

and powerful an innovator as Frederic the G-reat. 
4 



42 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

The enemies of Peter, who were, it must be confessed, the 
partisans of Catherine, took advantage of these acts of Peter, 
to render him unpopular with the nation. They proclaimed 
from one extremity of the empire to the other, that the 
Emperor had only pretended to embrace the Grreek religion, 
in order that he might be able to occupy the throne; that he 
was still a^igoted Lutheran at heart ; and that he was every 
day giving fresh proof of this, his horrible apostacy, by show- 
ing a profound contempt for the rites, ceremonies, and ancient , 
religion of the Russians. To confirm these reports, the people 
were reminded that he had caused a Lutheran chapel to be 
built in his palace at Oranienbaum ; that at the consecration 
of that chapel, he had distributed hymn-books, with his own 
hands, to his Holstein soldiers ; and that he had refused even 
to enter a Greek church which had been built and consecrated 
about the same time. It was added, that he had insulted the 
saints by calling two of his newly constructed ships of war by 
the sacred names of St. Nicholas and St. Alexander. It was 
asserted by his enemies, that he never spoke of the Russian 
empire but with contempt ; and never referred to the Germans 
but with respect; that he regarded the former as hopeless 
barbarians and savages, and the latter, as the representatives 
of national intelligence, science, and refinement, ^eter also 
gave great offence to his own troops, by the changes which he 
introduced among them. He was constantly showing his 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 43 

preference for his German troops over the Russian. He dis- 
banded the noble guards who had formerly placed Elizabeth 
on the throne, and substituted his Hplstein regiments for the 
horse-guardS; who had before, for generations, performed all 
military service around the court. He also introduced into 
the army, the Prussian exercise, which was undoubtedly better 
than the one to which his troops had been accustomed, but 
which displeased them, because it was new, and still to be 
learned. He appointed his uncle. Prince Greorge of Holstein, 
an officer of but little experience, to the high rank of gene- 
ralissimo of the Russian armies. In a word, he so prejudiced 
even his own troops against him, that he entirely lost their 
attachment, and rendered them fit instruments for any move- 
ment of an insurrectionary character which might be started 
against him, and his throne. ^By these means, the priesthood 
and the army were both alienated from him — and prepared 
for a revolution. 

But that which most displeased all classes of his subjects, 
was his declared resolution to reacquire, by force of arms, the 
G-rand Duchy of Schleswig, which the King of Denmark had 
seized, to the injury of the Dukes of Holstein. To this 
country Peter laid claim, by titles which certainly appeared 
to possess some appearance of strength. But ta attempt, at 
that moment, the establishment of his claims by conquest, 
was most impolitic. The King of Prussia, who seeme; in 



44 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

this case to have acted as his sincere friend, endeavoured to 
dissuade him from the attempt. The effect of his representa- 
tions was only a temporary postponement of the expedition, 
which the Czar proposed to resume at some future day. But 
long before its arrival, the hand of the assassin had done its 
bloody work, and given the prince his quietus. 

The sagacious Frederic seems to have foreseen, even at 
this early period, the disastrous consequences of the conduct 
of the Czar, He also already detected the commanding 
superiority of his wife, and presaged, that at some future day 
she would sit upon her husband's throne, and wield a sceptre 
of which she was the more worthy. Accordingly, at this time 
(1762), he gave strict orders to his minister at St. Petersburg, 
to pay particular court to the Empress, to secure her good 
will, and to be much more solicitous of siding with her, in the 
disputes which rent the imperial family, than with her doomed 
husband. 

During the first few days of Peter's reign, he treated the 
Empress with marked kindness ; spent many hours with her 
in her apartments ; and seemed to do honour to her superior 
understanding, by asking her advice respecting important 
affairs of state. Through her influence he recalled Biren, 
Duke of Courland, from his long exile in Siberia, as well as 
other distinguished persons. But this favourable change in 
the feelings of the sovereign did not prove of long duration. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE- II. 45 

Surrounded by his corrupt associates in the palace, he soon 
relapsed into his former habits of dissipation • spent most of 
his time in the apartments of his mistress ; and passed whole 
days in a state of continual intoxication. 

In ^1762, the events of which year we are now narrating, 
commenced that series of open hostilities and insults between 
the royal pair, which eventually resulted in one of the most 
memorable, as well as detestable, conspiracies recorded in the 
annals of empire; and which occasioned to Peter the loss 
of queen, of crown, and of life itself. The disgust and aver- 
sion of the sovereigns could now no longer be concealed ; and 
at a public festival Peter appeared, seated by the side of 
Catherine, while on his left his mistress, the Countess Yo- 
rontzoff, was directed by him to take her seat. The Empress 
immediately retired, without receiving from her husband any 
apology for the insult thus cast upon her. The same evening 
at supper he drank the health of his relation Prince George 
of Holstein, at which all the company rose, excepting Catherine. 
Peter, irritated at her conduct, became enraged, and addressed 
an opprobrious epithet to his wife, which, whether true or 
false, he should never have applied to the partner of his 
throne. Immediately Catherine burst into tears, and in a low 
voice bemoaned to h[)r chamberlain, Stroganof, the greatness 
of the affront thus put upon her. For his sympathy for the 



46 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

insulted Empress, that officer was immediately put under 
arrest. 

After this event, the hostility of the imperial couple seemed 
irremediable. The far-reaching glance of Catherine now saw 
the inevitable end from the beginning ; and was convinced that 
either the one or the other must vanquish, or be crushed by 
his opponent. She began to prepare, accordingly, to play the 
hazardous game before her, with coolness and determination. 
She visited the churches daily, and became the most devout 
and charitable woman in the empire. By favours and pro- 
motions she courted the attachment of the most able and 
useful persons about the court, many of whom Peter was daily 
offending by his arrogance and his debaucheries. He rendered 
himself despicable by his conduct toward his mistress ; for he 
promised her, to repudiate Catherine, to place her upon the 
vacant throne ; and she carried her impertinent authority over 
him so far, as sometimes to apply personal violence to him to 
compel him to comply with her caprices. The daily, conduct 
of the Czar was thus calculated to inspire contempt in the 
minds of his subjects, while that of the Empress was most 
studiously adapted to produce the opposite result, in the palace 
and with the populace, among both friends and foes. Yet the 
bitterness and fierceness of this domestic conflict did not pre- 
vent her from indulging what, as we have said, had now be- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 47 

come the most imperious necessity of her existence — that of 
the society of a favourite and a lover. 

The court, and even her own confidants, supposed, that she 
was still most deeply afflicted at the absence of Poniatosky, and 
was rigidly faithful in her devotion to him. Never was there 
a greater mistake, and never was woman's wit more success- 
fully employed, at once to deceive her acquaintances, and at 
the same time, to gratify her propensities. One of Catherine's 
confidants in her conspiracy against her husband, was the 
Y Princess Dashkof, the sister of the Emperor's mistress. That 
lady selected as an associate with her in her plans,^'Gregory 
Orlof, an aid-de-camp of Count Peter Schuvalof ; a man pos- 
sessed of all the qualities necessary to a successful conspirator. 
Princess Dashkof had been for months plotting with Orlof, 
without once suspecting that Orlof knew the Empress ; and 
Orlof had for months, been admitted to the secret embraces of 
the Empress, without once suspecting the exalted rank of the 
object of his attachment. The only person in the secret, was 
one of Catherine's own women, named Ivanovna, the most 
ingenious of confidants, as well as the least scrupulous. She 
managed the intrigue with such address, that the meetings of 
the lovers were held in a house in a small street in St. Peters- 
burg, on the banks of the Moika, a little river running through 
the city, which she had rented and furnished for their use, by 
the command of Catherine. 



48 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

This new and successful aspirant had neither the advantages 
of fortune, of birth, or of education } but he possessed what 
was far more attractive to the female mind, intelligence and 
masculine beauty. There were five brothers of this family : 
Gregory, the favouritt^^ 'Alexius, afterward admiral ; Vladimir, 
afterward senator ; Feodor, the chamberlain ; and Ivan, who 
became a colonel. Count Schuvalof had the vanity of desiring 
that his aids-de-camp should be the handsomest men in the 
army. He had selected Orlof, and this position first brought 
the latter to the notice of Catherine, whose skilful eye at once 
discerned his physical advantages, while she afterward ap- 
preciated, upon a more intimate acquaintance, the superior 
mental qualities which he possessed. All these proceedings 
were carried on, while Poniatosky and his friends were in- 
dulging in the pleasing delusion, that the devoted Empress 
was languishing for the presence of her absent lover. They 
still continued, indeed, to correspond, and he to remain cuck- 
olded ; until, after the death of the Czar Peter, Poniatosky 
asked permission to return to St. Petersburg, to share her 
heart and throne, when he was flatly refused, and was thus 
suddenly undeceived.* 

* Gregory Orlop at this period was young and robust. He en- 
joyed all the influence and honours united, which afterward adorned 
the powerful Potempkin, and burdened the eflfeminate Zubof, The 
Empress was then also in the bloom of her youth. Beside her acknow- 
ledged son by Gregory, named Bobrinsky, who is elsewhere spoken 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 49 

The princess Dashkof, whom we have named, was a re- 
markable woman. She was the bosom friend of Catherine, 
and resembled her in her personal beauty, her decision of 
mind, and masculine energy. She was jealous of the threat- 
ened elevation of her sister to the place of Empress, and de- 
termined to prevent it. Catherine, happy in the love of 
Orlof, had now nothing else to do, but to mature that con- 
spiracy, by which Peter III. was to be dethroned, and herself 
elevated to an undivided supremacy. She and Princess Dash- 
kof set themselves seriously to work, in connexion with Orlof, 
to mature their plans. Odart, the secretary of the princess, 
was first brought over. This was a French adventurer, whose 
talents for political intrigue were respectable, and whom his 
mistress knew sufficiently well, to be intrusted with so delicate 
and dangerous a matter. But the power of such associates 

of in this work, two pretty maids of honour whom Madam Protassof, 
first lady of the bed-chamber, educated as her nieces, are likewise 
reputed to be Catherine's daughters by Orlof. Twelve years of un- 
interrupted intimacy with his sovereign, added to his haughtiness, 
disgusted her at length with his person, andTotempkin then assumed 
his place, after a long and jealous rivalry between them. His disgrace 
and his mortified jealousy broke down his mind and health, and the 
once proud, powerful, and magnificent Orlof died in the most^ horri- 
ble state of insanity. It was asserted that Potempkin poisoned him 
with an herb, which possessed the quality of turning the brain. 

Vide Secret Memoirs of the Court of St. Petersburg. London, 1801. 

Vol. I. p. 105. 



50 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

was of little consequence. It was necessary to obtain ^the co- 
operation of some of the great men of the state : the' Hetman 
Razumosky an(f Count Panin were the most available in such 
an emergency ; and these, after the proper exertions and soli- 
citations on the part of Orlof, were duly gained over to the 
ranks of the conspirators. 

The great influence of these men in the state, and in the 
army, made their acquisition of the greatest importance. They 
attached as many of their respective friends as were necessary 
and prudent, to the cause. Yolkonsky, major-general of the 
guards, a relation of Bestuchef, the exiled minister, and the 
inheritor of his hatred to Peter III., was easily added to their 
number. VThe Archbishop of Novogorod, also an enemy of 
that sovereign, was united to the conspiracy, and, with him, 
was obtained the future valuable and powerful aid and influ- 
ence of the ecclesiastical orders. The Princess Dashkof 
exerted herself -to add the support and co-operation of the 
brothers of Gregory Orlof, in person not less handsome, in 
spirit not less bold and aspiring, than he, and possessing a 
physical ferocity and strength which surpassed even his own. 
The Empress's favourite had duly informed her of these acces- 
sions to their numbers, but when the Princess Dashkof came 
to apprise her of her own successful eff'orts with them, the 
dissembling sovereign, with consummate sls.ill,. was careful; 
neither to undeceive her friend, or to affroEkt her; vanity. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 51 

The first object of the conspiracy was only to dethrone 
Peter III. The next was to determine how to dispose of the 
reins of empire after his deposition. Catherine, true to the 
ambition of her nature, wished to reign sole Empress. Count 
Panin, on the other hand, contended that her son Paul should 
be declared Emperor, and she be appointed Regent, and thus 
virtually govern the empire. Long and violent were the dis- 
putes of the conspirators on this subject, which began to 
become dangerous even to the interests of the faction. At 
length, the resources of the female conspirators found a potent 
remedy for the evil. *^Panin, in his interviews with the Prin- 
cess Dashkof, had been captivated by her boldness, intelligence, 
and beauty. She easily discovered the power she exerted 
over him, and took means to increase it. He soon made an 
open declaration of his passion. At first she received him 
with coldness, but it was not her virtue which impelled her to 
reject his suit. Too many other suitors had already experi- 
enced that it was not invincible. After due delays, on the 
part of the lady, and proper protestations on the part of the 
enamoured Count, the princess consented to whatever Panin 
proposed, and Catherine had no more opposition to apprehend 
on the part of the successful lover. 

The principal preparations for the conspiracy had now been 
made. Peter III., utterly unconscious of the peril which over- 
hung him, was wholly devoted to pleasure, and his military 
C 



52 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

expedition against Denmark. He little thouglit of the fatal 
crisis in his destiny, which was approaching with silent, yet 
irresistible certainty; 

The crafty and aspiring Empress was active and determ 
Peter had fixed his departure for Denmark on the day follow- 
ing the festival of St. Peter and St. Paul. The blow must be 
struck ere his departure. Her party were patiently waiting 
the moment of action. The revolutionary elements yet re- 
mained as still and quiescent as a pent-up volcano. The 
dauntless Catherine might now have used the language of 
another aspirant to a throne, not less ambitious, but less suc- 
cessful, than she : 

" Now my golden dream is out! 
Ambition like an early friend tlirows back 
My curtains with an eager hand, o'erjoyed 
To tell me what I dreamt — is true. A Crown I 
Thou bright reward of ever-daring minds. 
Oh, how thine awful glory wraps my soul ! 
Nor can the means that got thee, dim thy lustre. 
For fame not more survives from good, 
Than evil deeds." 



CHAPTER IV. 

PREMATUKE EXPLOSION OP THE PLOT. — ^DESPERATE ENERGY AND DE- 
TERMINATION OP THE CONSPIRATORS. — CATHERINE BROUGHT TO ST. 
PETERSBURG. — SHE RECEIVES THE HOMAGE OF THE TROOPS. — PETER 
UNINFORMED OF THESE TRANSACTIONS AT PETERHOF, WHERE HE WAS 
RESIDING. — THE FIRST NEWS OF THE CONSPIRACY. — OVERCOME WITH 
TERROR. — FLIES TO CRONSTADT. — MARSHAL MUNICH. — PETER GOES 
TO ORANIENBAUM. — HE WRITES TO CATHERINE. — HE WRITES A 
SECOND MORE SUPPLIANT LETTER. — HE ABDICATES THE THRONE. — - 
TRIUMPH OF CATHERINE. — REACTION OP PUBLIC SENTIMENT. — PETER 
A PRISONER AT ROPSCHA. — HIS VIOLENT DEATH. 

Accident discovered the plot, which had been so ably 
prepared, a day sooner than had been intended by its 
authors. But that event, which seemed to be in the highest 
degree unfortunate, was in reality the most propitious to 
the accomplishment of the ends of the conspirators ; the very 
desperation of their case now nerved their energies to im- 
mediate and mortal conflict. 

Passick, one of the conspirators, had gained over many of 
the officers and soldiers of his regiment. A soldier, think- 
ing that Passick had secured the aid of the commander 

of ,his corps, asked that officer on what day they were to 

(53) 



54 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

take up arms against the Emperor. The commander was 
surprised, and dissimulated. He obtained from the soldier 
some of the particulars of the conspiracy, which he imme- 
diately proceeded to report to the chancery of the regiment. 
It was now nine o'clock at night. Passick and the soldier 
were arrested. But these succeeded in sending word to the 
Princess Dashkof of what had occurred. She instantly sent 
for Panin, Gregory Orlof, and others of the leading conspi- 
rators. Their resolution was unanimous immediately to com- 
mence the revolutionary movement. Orlof repaired to the 
barracks, to prepare those troops for action, which had al- 
ready been tampered with, and won over. Alexius Orlof 
started for Peterhof, at some miles distance of Petersburg, 
where Catherine then was, to bring her immediately to the 
capital. 

Catherine lodged in a small summer-house called Montplai- 
sir, romantically situated at the extremity of the garden of 
that palace, on the shore of the Grulf of Finland. Her only 
attendant was her waiting-woman, whom we have already 
named, Ivanovna. A small boat was fastened to the shore, 
for the convenience of her favourites, whom she there fre- 
quently honoured with an interview. 

It was now two o'clock in the morning. Catherine, terrified 
at the sudden interruption, arose, dressed, and entered the 
carriage which had been sent for her accommodation. Alexius 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 55 

Orlof took the reins and set off with speed. The horses soon 
broke down, and the party were compelled to alight. They 
were yet some miles from Petersburg, and their situation was 
critical. They fortunately found a light country cart. They 
entered it and drove on. They now met the carriage of 
G-regory Orlof, with whom they drove in haste to the capital, 
at which they arrived at seven o'clock in the morning. 

The Empress immediately proceeded with her attendants to 
the barracks, where she received the submission of the troops. 
Two persons alone of the regiments refused their acclamations. 
They were immediately arrested. Surrounded by the soldiers, 
she proceeded to the palace. The inhabitants of the capital 
mechanically followed the motions of the soldiery, and united 
with their applauses. She then repaired to the metropolitan 
church, when the Archbishop of Novogorod appeared in his 
pontifical vestments ; placed the imperial crown upon her 
head ; proclaimed her sovereign of all the Russias, by the name 
of Catherine II. ; and declared her son, the G-rand Duke 
Paul, her successor. Meantime the conspirators were unwea- 
ried in placing the several quarters of the city in defence. 
The Empress was now surrounded by fifteen thousand troops, 
and was doubtless prepared to make a resistance much more 
desperate than that which was actually required. During this 
day the principal nobles who had taken no part in the con- 



56 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

spiracy, resorted to the palace, and offered their homage, and 
oaths of fidelity to the new empress. 

Astounding as it may appear, no information of all these 
. proceedings had yet been carried to the deluded Czar ; but he 
spent the day in his usual diversions. He set out from the 
palace of Oranienbaum, where he then was, in his carriage 
with his mistress and other favourites, to be present at the 
festivities which were to take place at Peterhof the next day. 
On the road a messenger informed him only of Catherine's 
departure from Peterhof on the preceding day. Upon receiv- 
ing this information, he became very much agitated, and pro- 
ceeding rapidly to Peterhof, arrived there, rushed to the 
pavilion which had been occupied by Catherine, and then, 
with dismay, discovered the truth of the information he had 
received. 

Shortly after he received a letter from Bressau, stating that 
a rebellion had broken out that morning at Petersburg ; that 
the troops had taken arms in favour of Catherine ; and that she 
had been crowned. The Chancellor Yorontzof immediately 
repaired, by orders of the Czar, to Petersburg, and to the pres- 
ence of Catherine, and began to proclaim to her the peril and 
hopelessness of her attempt. But beholding the fierce and 
threatening glances of the officers and courtiers around him, 
his courage vanished, he changed his allegiance, and took the 
oath of obedience with the rest ! 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. &7 

Meanwhile Peter remained the victim of the greatest ter- 
rors. Marshal Munich was the only person about him who 
could give advice worthy of the least confidence. Had he 
obeyed the injunction of this aged and experienced veteran, he 
might have been saved. He advised him to put himself at 
the head of his troops which were with him, preparing for his 
Danish expedition ; proceed to the capital ; and there contend 
for the mighty prize at issue, by force of arms. But news 
arriving of the approach of the Empress, with an army of 
20,000 men, the women in the suite of the Czar became so 
terrified, that they persuaded him to resign his hostile inten- 
tions, and he was induced to embark for Cronstadt, where he 
expected to find the garrison faithful to him. 

But in this expectation he was disappointed. On arriving 
there, he discovered, that the emissaries of Catherine had an- 
ticipated him, and that the garrison had already joined her 
partisans. The cannon were levelled, and the matches lighted, 
on his approach ; and when the Emperor was announced to 
the guard, he was answered, ^' There is no Emperor, long live 
the Empress Catherine !" Peter, embarrassed and dismayed, 
gave orders to the rowers of his yacht to cut the cable, and 
pull away from the ill-fated spot. When a short distance 
from the shore, the rowers stopped. It was a fine night. The 
fallen Emperor, and his Marshal Munich, who, though he had 
witnessed many strange vicissitudes of fortune during his long 



58 HISTORY OF CATHERINE XL 

and checkered life, had never seen so great an one as this, — 
sat upon the deck, contemplating, in mournful silence, the 
starry vault of heaven, and the calm surface of the murmur- 
ing sea. They then must have felt deeply the vanity of human 
glory, and the instability of human affairs, compared with the 
permanency of nature's eternal works, upon which they were 
gazing. 

The steersman desired to know whither he should direct the 
vessel. Munich advised him to join the squadron at Revel, 
and prepare for an active defence. But it seemed as if the 
women and courtiers had conspired to ruin the unfortunate 
prince, and they urged the distance of the place, and the danger 
of the attempt. Yielding to their supplications, he ordered 
the rowers to take the direction of Oranienbaum. It was four 
o'clock in the morning when they reached that place. Peter 
commanded his domestics not to divulge the news of his re- 
turn, shut himself up in his apartments, and secretly wrote to 
the Empress. 

Meanwhile the Empress, flushed with the success which 
had so far attended her career, advanced at the head of her 
army toward Peterhof. At the monastery of St. Sergus, near 
Strelna, where she reposed for an hour on the cloaks which 
the officers of her suite had made into a bed for her, she re- 
ceived the letter from the Czar, proposing to share the imperial 
authority with her. Catherine took no notice of it whatever. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 59 

On her. approach to Oranienhaum, Peter had that little fortress 
dismantled, to convince his wife that he had no hostile inten- 
tions ; sent her another letter, imploring her mercy, oflfering to 
resign the crown, and asking only a pension and liberty to re- 
tire into Holstein. To this epistle Catherine deigned no 
answer. She even bought over the servant who brought it, 
and sent him back commissioned to persuade the Czar to sub- 
mit unconditionally to her will. After some deliberation, the 
unhappy Czar concluded to follow the advice of this traitor. 
He proceeded in his carriage to the position occupied by the 
Empress and her troops. On approaching nearer, he was 
stripped of the insignia of his rank, and even of his clothes. 
He remained for some time among the soldiery, in his shirt, 
and barefoot — the butt of their ridicule, the object of their con- 
tempt ; till at length he was shut up alone in a room, with a 
guard at the door. 

The Empress sent Count Panin to confer with the Czar. 
The interview resulted in his signing an instrument and decla- 
ration, whereby he resigned all title to the throne; acknow- 
ledging his unfitness to hold empire; and appointing the 
Empress sole sovereign of all the Russias.* This instruuioM 
was dated June 29th, 1762. This wonderful revolution, 
accomplished in one day, and as yet, without shedding a drop 

* See the Appendix, Nos. I. and II., containing the proclamations, 
made by Catherine, at the period of her usurpation. 



60 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

of blood, seems rather a tale of romance, than the narration 
of soher history. Peter had reigned precisely six' months, 
from the death of Elizabeth to the day of his abdication. 
Under happier stars, and under more propitious circumstances, 
he would have left a name, which, if it did not claim from 
posterity respect for its grandeur and greatness, might at least 
have secured the honour due goodness and usefulness. 

Catherine slept that night at Peterhof, no longer a captive, 
but now an absolute sovereign. At her levee, among those 
who presented their homage, was the family of the Princess 
Dashkof, who were forgiven and received by the Empress at 
her intercession. On Marshal Munich presenting himself, the 
Empress called out aloud, " Field-marshal, it was you then, 
who wanted to fight me?'' '^Yes, madame," he replied, "I 
could not do less for the man who delivered me from captivity. 
Henceforth it shall be my pleasure to fight for you V 

In the afternoon Catherine returned to Petersburg. Her 
entry was triumphant. The whole army accompanied her, 
crowned with wreaths of oak } and the applauses of the fickle 
populace mingled with those of the soldiery. Taking up her 
residence in the palace, she seemed now indeed to be firmly 
established upon an usurper's throne. She showed great 
clemency to the officers and friends of the late Emperor. 
Countess Vorontzof, her late rival, was alone banished a thou- 
sand versts from St. Petersburg. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. ftl 

NoW; for the first time, it began to appear who were the 
favourites of Catherine. The first marks of distinction were 
shown to Gregory Orlof. This fact was first detected by the 
vigilant eye of the Princess Dashkof. Jealousy is more pene- 
trating than ambition. It is more watchful ; it is also less 
discreet. The princess nearly lost the friendship of the 
sovereign, by her outbursts which followed the discovery. 

Soon, however, a reaction in public sentiment began to appear, 
favourable to the dethroned Emperor. The people, who natu- 
rally pass from rage to pity or repentance, commiserated the 
fate of the unfortunate prince. They remembered his amiable 
qualities, his useful measures, and his sad and mournful 
reverse of fortune. What had he done to deserve so hard a 
fate ? Thus it is in all ages and nations ; the popular will is 
ever the tool of passion and prejudice, never the instrument 
of calm, enlightened reflection. They are led by the super- 
ficial appearance of things, never by any philosophical insight 
into their real nature. They rashly perpetrate to-day what 
their fury suggests ', they are as easily repentant to-morrow at 
the sight of the mischief they have done. Had Peter III., 
even then, possessed a resolute leader, the populace would 
have easily placed him upon the throne, as, three days before, 

they had dragged him down. 

Catherine and her friends were not ignorant of the danger- 
ous state of public opinion. They saw the necessity of going 



62 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

a step further than they had at first perhaps intended. Ex- 
treme measures must be adopted. While the exiled, injured 
Emperor lived, so long Catherine would tremble on her inse- 
cure throne. It was decreed in her secret councils, that her 
husband must perish. In furtherance of this purpose, Peter 
was secretly removed to Ropscha. Even there he was blind 
to the unhappy fate which awaited him. The castle to which 
he had been removed was now to become the scene of one of 
the most detestable and hateful murders recorded on the bloody 
page of human history. He had sent to his wife, beseeching 
that his dog, his servant, his violin, and some romances, might 
be sent him, to alleviate his solitude. He also declared that 
he would henceforth retire from the world and devote himself 
to philosophy. Not one of these simple requests was com- 
plied with ; and his projected plans of wisdom and reform were 
turned into ridicule. 

Six days had Peter been at Ropscha, when Alexius Orlof 
and Teplof came to him with the news of speedy deliverance, 
and asked permission to dine with him. The last hour of the 
unhappy man had come, and he was now to endure the horrors 
of a cruel and violent death. The last blood of Peter the 
Grreat was about to become extinct, by the inglorious hand of 
secret assassination. The request of the ofl&cers was cheerfully 
complied with. At table, while Teplof engaged the attention 
of the Czar, Orlof dropped a poison into the cup of the Prince, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 63 

tfie virulence of which was so great, that the most cruel and 
excruciating pains immediately followed. The terrified Peter 
at once suspected the horrid truth, and gave way to his agony 
with groans and tears. He called for milk, but the heartless 
conspirators ofiered him another poisoned glass. He refused 
it. At this moment one of his servants entering the apart- 
ment, Peter threw himself into his arms, and cried out that it 
was not enough to prevent him from reigning and to deprive 
him of his crown ; they must also destroy him.V The servant 
attempted to intercede for his master, when the conspirators 
rudely ejected him from the apartment. Then Alexius Orlof, 
a man of powerful frame, threw the Emperor violently upon 
the floor ; placed his two knees upon his breast j and grasped 
his throat firmly with his two hands. The unhappy monarch, 
screaming with terror and agony, struggled with the strength 
which despair alone can give. The other conspirator then 
hastily placed a napkin, with a running knot, around his neck, 
and the exertions of the two assassins ended his struggles and 
his life, by strangulation. Such was the unhappy end of him, 
who, six months before, had inherited the most majestic 
empire on the earth ; who had seemed to be born to a long, 
a happy, and an illustrious career. The assassination of Peter 
was one of those scenes of violence and cruelty which so often 
occur in the dark and bloody annals of feudal times; when 
force and brutal vengeance governed the destiny of men, and 



64 HISTORY OP CATHEEINE 11. 

asserted their terrible supremacy, not only over the down- 
trodden serf and the feudal baron ; but even sometimes assailed 
the majesty of kings, and made them the victims of its all-con- 
quering and irresistible power. 



CHAPTER V. 

Peter's private funeral. — Catherine recognised as empress by 
the european powers. — difficulty with the princess dash- 
kof. — catherine displays her statesmanship. — confirms the 
abolition of the secret inquisition. — immense advantages 

offered by her to imbiigration. project of marrying her 

favourite, orlof. conspiracy to assassinate him. — affairs of 

poland. catherine succeeds in placing poniatosky on the 

polish throne. — her tour to courland and esthonia. — con- 
spiracy of mirovitch. its failure. death of ivan iii. 

personal appearance and qualities of ivan. — trial and 
punishment of mirovitch and his associates. 

Upon the perpetration of the horrid murder of Peter, 
Grregory Orlof immediately mounted his horse, and hastened 
to inform the Empress of what had occurred. She received 
the news with a tranquil air. She dined that day in public 
with her court, and in the evening gave a splendid entertain- 
ment. The body of the unhappy monarch was brought to St. 
Petersburg, and exposed for three days in the Monastery of 
St. Alexander. Peter's body lay in an open coffin, dressed in 
his Holstein uniform, and all ranks were admitted to kiss his 
hands and lips. His face had turned quite black, and the 

.(65) . 



66 HISTOKY OF CATHERINE II. 

poison which he had swallowed was so powerful, that all those 
who had the courage to lay their mouths to his, came away 
with swelled lips. His remains were deposited near those of 
the deposed regent Anne, the mother of the dethroned Ivan; 
but the place of his sepulture was honoured with neither in- 
scription nor monument. 

After the sad obsequies were over, the banished Chancellor 
Bestuchef was recalled. Many other persons who had fallen 
under the displeasure of Peter, were restored to their lost 
dignities and fortunes. There was a general resurrection at 
St. Petersburg, where a multitude of persons, who had been 
long separated from their families, and forgotten by the world, 
again reappeared among living men, and to a generation among 
whom they were strangers. 

Although Catherine had secured the throne by such ques- 
tionable means, yet her accession was acknowledged by the 
principal powers of Europe. But she had much more to fear 
from the disaffection of her own subjects, than fr&m foreign 
interference or aggression. She determined upon a visit to 
Moscow, to quiet dissensions there, and crush the nascent 
spirit of revolt. She left St. Petersburg under the supreme 
control of Alexius Orlof, and chose as her attendants on the 
journey, Gregory Orlof, the old Chancellor Bestuchef, and all 
his courtiers who had shown themselves most devoted to her 
service. She and her cavalcade were received in Moscow 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 67 

without any displays of popular enthusiasm. She however 
repaired to the chapel of the Czars, where she bestowed 
her caresses on the Archbishop and his suffragans, and was 
crowned in the presence of the soldiers and the people. After 
a very short stay, and concealing as best she could her chagrin, 
she returned hastily to St. Petersburg. 

One of the diflGiculties of her situation now was, to release 
herself from the control of some of those, by whose aid she 
had reached the throne, and who now began to assert their 
claims to dictation. Of these, the most troublesome was the 
Princess Dashkof. She demanded, among other things, the 
title of Colonel in the guards — a request which Catherine 
resolved to refuse. The princess, mortified at the denial, gave 
vent to her feelings. She immediately received orders to 
retire to Moscow. Each day the favourite Orlof obtained 
more influence over the Empress. She found in him, not only 
the essential merits of a lover, but also the best qualities of a 
statesman. She felt toward him, not only the tenderness of 
affection; she entertained also the sentiment of gratitude. 
His dizzy elevation created him many enemies ; but none of 
their malicious representations affected his position with Cathe- 
rine 3 and even afterward, when the ardour of her passion had 
been satiated by long indulgence, and had sought other and 
younger objects of gratification, she cherished the friendship 



68 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

of Orlof, and ever accorded to him her confidence and appro- 
bation. 

We have now reached that period in the history of this 
great Empress, when she began to display those talents for 
statesmanship upon which rests the glorious monument of 
her fame. Hitherto, we have seen her only in passages of 
love, or of adventure ; we may now contemplate her in a higher 
sphere than even a political aspirant ; — as a sovereign, and as 
administrator of the interests of a vast and complicated empire. 
She now applied herself to the advancement of commerce. 
She made appropriations to augment the marine. She ap- 
pointed commissions to examine into the finances of the 
empire. She reduced many of the expenses of the govern- 
ment. She met her ministers regularly and punctually, and 
attended with assiduity to the despatch of business. She held 
frequent conferences with Marshal Munich, and the Chancellor 
Bestuchef. With the former, she discussed projects of ex- 
tending her empire by military aggressions ; with the latter 

/ 
she studied the politics and resources of the various courts and 

kingdoms of Europe, their weaknesses and their advantages. 
By an ukase dated Oct. 13th, 1762, she confirmed the aboli- 
tion of the secret inquisition chancery, which the ill-fated 
Peter had abolished, and for which, his memory was cherished 
with gratitude by the nation. She declared by an ukase, that 
foreign colonists should find welcome and support in her do- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 69 

minions. The consequence of this was, that vast multitudes 
of the most valuable citizens of Germany and other countries 
migrated to Russia, and became among the most valuable 
of her subjects. She designated what districts were best 
adapted for agriculture, and where the most desirable locations 
existed for commerce and manufactures. She exempted stran- 
gers from all services, either civil or military ; even from all 
taxes and imposts for a certain time — such as for five years in 
the large cities, for ten years in the inland towns, and for thirty 
years in the rural districts. She proclaimed the equal tolera- 
tion of all religions. 

The consequence of these wise regulations was, that thou- 
sands of foreigners flocked to Russia, as to the Promised Land. 
Scenes similar to those which have in modern times been 
witnessed, of adventures in multitudes hastening from Ameri- 
can seaports to the modern Ophir, were exhibited in all the 
maritime towns of G-ermany. Whole families of men, women, 
and children, literati, professors, artificers, mechanics, soldiei-s, 
adventurers, and vagabonds of every name and grade, were 
crowding to the land where such favourable offers were made 
to promote the interests of the stranger. 

The administration of the fortunate Empress now moved on 
with harmony and success. At peace with foreign nations, 
order and quiet reigning within her own dominions, except 
some few irregularities which were easily crushed, she had 



70 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

leisure to turn her thoughts to other, and perhaps more agree- 
able enterprises. , 

In 1763 everything seemed to concur in promoting the 
fortunes of her favourite Orlof. She no longer concealed her 
preference for him from the public eye. The aged Bestuchef, 
observing the state of affairs, determined to propose to Cathe- 
rine the elevation of Orlof to the throne by her marriage with 
him. The proposal at once aroused Orlof 's highest ambition. 
He embraced Bestuchef with transport, and promised a com- 
pliance with all he wished. But alas ! for the vanity of human 
hopes : as soon as Bestuchef proposed the arrangement to 
Catherine, she declined the proposal on the ground that it was 
surrounded with so many difl&culties, that it could not be 
accomplished without giving just offence to the empire. Bestu- 
chef was not discouraged. He drew up a petition, which was 
signed by the principal dignitaries of the empire, beseeching 
her that, as the health of her son Paul was delicate, she would 
sacrifice her liberty for the good of her empire, and choose 
from among her subjects, the one most worthy to share her 
affections and her throne. Had it not been for the dexterity 
of Count Panin, Orlof had become Emperor of all the Bussias ; 
for Catherine was about yielding to a proposal which was more 
agreeable to affection than to policy, and acquiesce in the 
measure. It was only the urgent and solemn supplications of 
Panin, and of the Hetman Razumosky, against elevating to 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 71 

the throne an untitled and irresponsible adventurer, who, when 
a.bsolute power was within his reach, might commit unknown 
excesses, — that induced her to see the really dangerous nature 
of the project, and to renounce it. 

Meanwhile, news had spread abroad of the contemplated 
elevation of Orlof, and a conspiracy of a formidable character 
was immediately set on foot against him. One of these was 
near succeeding. A night guard stood at Orlof 's door, and 
one at that of the Empress. One of these had been bribed 
to open Orlof's apartment to three conspirators. He was 
saved by a mistake in the hour ; for when the conspirators 
approached, the confederate had been relieved by another. 
The latter, astounded at seeing three men seeking admission 
to Orlof's apartment at that hour of the night, gave the alarm ; 
— but the conspirators had escaped. 

This event occurred at Moscow. Filled with apprehension, 
Catherine immediately returned to St. Petersburg. She 
arrived on the anniversary of her elevation" to the throne. 
Even there, rumours of conspiracies against her were now 
numerous and threatening. Public report even accused Count 
Panin and his brother, and the Hetman Razumosky, of being 
among the conspirators. Catherine, astounded at these reports, 
was on the point of having them arrested. She concluded, 
however, to try the force of artifice, and first to employ quieter 
means, so as if possible not to alienate those powerful persons, 



72 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

should tlie report of their unfaithfulness prove untrue. She 
knew that the Princess Dashkof must be in the confidence of 
the conspirators, whoever they were, inasmuch as she had been 
treated coldly by the Empress since her elevation. She wrote 
a long and affectionate letter to her, pretending regret for 
their existing coldness. She praised the services and attach- 
ment of her former friend, and proposed to readmit her 
to her confidence. She besought the princess to reveal what 
she knew of the existing conspiracies. To a long letter of 
four pages, the Empress received a reply of four lines, con- 
taining these words : " Madame, I have heard nothing ; but 
if I had heard anything, I should take good care how I spoke 
of it ! What is it you require of me ? That I should expire 
on the scaffold ? I am ready to mount it !" Catherine, foiled 
in this attempt, was more successful elsewhere. Some of the 
conspirators were discovered, and banished to Siberia. Panin 
and Razumosky were found innocent, and were reinstated in 
her favour. 

It became necessary for Catherine now to turn her attention 
from the internal affairs of her own kingdom, to those of a 
foreign state. Poland, for so many ages distinguished for the 
chivalry and high spirit of her people, has been equally re- . 
markable for the sufferings and misfortunes which they have 
endured from the defects of her constitution. In 1763, 
Augustus III. was fast approaching his grave ; and it became 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 73 

a vital question in the politics of Europe, who was to be his 
successor upon that elective throne. Catherine determined to 
elevate her former favourite, Count Poniatosky, to that high 
dignity, influenced, doubtless, by a twofold feeling : first, 
the memory of their former attachment, and secondly, the 
consciousness that such an arrangement would promote her 
political interests. By the charter of that country, the crown 
was made elective, and the proviso was added, that the king 
should never appoint a successor during his lifetime. The 
General Diet was to be assembled every year. Every noble- 
man in Poland had the right to vote at the election of a king ; 
and if the king infringed the laws, and invaded the privileges 
of the nobles, the nation was absolved from its allegiance. 

There existed in the Polish constitution, an anomaly, such 
as is to be found in no other government, ancient or modern. 
This was the privilege possessed by each nobleman, singly to 
put an end to the deliberations of a whole diet by his vote, his 
lihevum veto ; a right which was the source, as might be ex- 
pected, of infinite injury and misfortune to the nation, and in 
itself the most absurd and despicable, of which the mind can 
conceive. 

Augustus III. died Oct. 5th, 1763. Catherine had ob- 
tained the assurances of the courts of Vienna and Versailles, 
that they would not interfere in the affairs of Poland. When 
it became known in Warsaw, that Poniatosky was to be elevated 



74 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

to the vacant throne, universal discontent prevailed, that so 
young and so low-horn a person, should he promoted to so high 
a dignity. As ohstacles arose against her purpose, the reso- 
lution of Catherine also increased, and she was determined not 
to be thwarted in her intention, if we may judge from the tone 
of her letter to her minister in Warsaw. To him she says : 
" My dear Count, remember my candidate. I write this to 
you at two o'clock in the morning; judge whether I am in- 
different about the affair.' '* At length the diet opened upon 
the plain of Vola, three miles from Warsaw. It began by a 
solemn mass and a sermon. "j" Forty-five nuncios protested 
against the presence of Catherine's troops. Count Branitchky, 
whose name was at the head of the protest, retired from the 
diet. So high did hostilities run between the troops of the 
rival parties, that an engagement actually occurred between 
them, in which the Poles were routed, and the Russians 
triumphed. Overawed by the presence of the victorious army, 
the diet at length proceeded to a final ballot, and Count Poni- 
atosky was duly elected. The next day he was proclaimed 

■^ " Mon cher comte, souvenez-vous de mon candidal. Je vous Scris ceci 
deux heures apris minuit: jugez si la cJiose rri'est indifferente !" The 
letter containing this acknowledgment had been intercepted. 

f The text is said to have been 2d Kings 10, 3 : Eligite ex vobis 
meliorem, qui vobis placuerit, ef posuite mm super solium. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 75 

King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Lithuania, under the title 
of Stanislaus Augustus. 

The Empress, having triumphed in this enterprise, resolved 
to take a tour to Esthonia and Courland. On her departure, 
she left St. Petersburg under the command of Count Panin. 
During her absence occurred a conspiracy against her throne 
and authority, the object of which was to elevate the dethroned 
Ivan in her stead. Since 1745 he had been in close confine- 
ment in the fortress of Schlusselberg. In a subterranean 
vault, where no ray of heaven's light ever visited him, with a 
lamp constantly burning, the unhappy prince whiled away the 
tedious and hopeless hours of his existence. He knew no 
difference between night and day. No clock ever tolled out 
to him the sluggish progress of the hours. He was attended 
by two soldiers, whose orders were, never to utter a word in 
his hearing. He was now twenty-four years of age. ' His 
figure was graceful, and his manners pleasing. In an inter- 
view which the Empress Elizabeth once held with him, these 
qualities of the unhappy Prince had moved even her heart to 
tears. Peter III. had held frequent interviews with him, and 
was so convinced of his capacity, that he had determined to 
proclaim him his heir and successor, to the prejudice of his 
reputed son. The soldiers who guarded him, had orders to 

the effect, that should an attempt ever be made to release him, 
D 



76 • HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

they would be held answerable with their lives for his death. 
They were ordered instantly to destroy him. 

During Catherine's absence, a soldier of the Smolensk regi- 
ment, named Miroviteh, conceived the daring purpose of liber- 
ating Prince Ivan, and proclaiming him Emperor. Being sta- 
tioned in the fortress, he had facilities for carrying his purpose 
into effect. He soon obtained the sworn co-operation of some 
of his disaffected fellow-soldiers 3 as many as he supposed neces- 
sary for his purpose. He pretended to have an order from 
Petersburg for the release of the Prinoe. On the day ap- 
pointed, for carrying out the enterprise of the conspirators, 
Miroviteh first attacke'd and secured the Grovernor of the castle. 
He next prepared to batter open the door of the Prince's dun- 
geon, having brought a piece of artillery from the ramparts ; 
but at that moment the door of Ivan's prison opened, and he 
entered with his soldiers. A sad sight then met their view. 
The keepers of the Prince, in accordance with their strict 
orders, had executed their bloody commission. The noise out- 
side of his prison, had awaked the unhappy Ivan, and hearing 
the threats of his guards, he had conjured them to spare his 
miserable life. They paid no regard to his requests ; and al- 
though he was naked, he resisted their assaults with despera- 
tion, and defended himself for a considerable time. Having 
his right hand pierced through, and his body wounded in 
various places, he seized the sword of one of the assassins, and 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 77 

broke it ; and while he was struggling to get the piece out of 
his hand, the other stabbed him in the side/ and threw hini 
down. They tjjipn despatched him with their bayonets. The 
bleeding and mangled body of the murdered youth lay on the 
ground before Mirovitch, when he entered the apartment. 
Struck with horror at the sight, he threw himself on the bouy 
and exclaimed, " I have missed my aim, I have nothing now to 
do but to die." He immediately surrendered himself. Ivan 
was full six feet high, of handsome figure, and fair complexion. 
His body was wrapped up in a sheepskin, put into a coffin, and 
buried without ceremony. Immediately upon her return to 
Petersburg from Riga, where she then was, Catherine ordered 
the trial of Mirovitch and his accomplices. They were con- 
demned; he to death, and they to banishment to Siberia. 
The sentence was immediately executed; and thus another of 
the various congj>iracies which had been formed against this 
Empress was destroyed and crushed, thereby adding an addi- 
tional instance to the many which had already occurred, in 
which she enjoyed the most remarkable good fortune, and 
triumphed over repeated perils and dangers. 

Much mystery overhung this aflfair at the time of its occur- 
rence. Many intelligent persons were of opinion that the 
chief conspirator was in the pay of the Russian sovereign ; 
who resolved by his means to rid herself of a person who 
might one day become the head of a dangerous rebellion, 



78 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

and put in peril the security of her throne. It was asserted, 
that Mirovitch himself declared, before his death, that such 
had been the case ; and that he indulged thq^^certain hope of 
pardon even when he ascended the scaffold. His reckless 
indifference to his dreadful fate, was supposed to be a convinc- 
ing proof that, up to the moment of his execution, he expected 
to escape the rigour of the law, and even to be rewarded for 
his villany. His hopes, if he entertained any, were destined 
to a sad disappointment. The two officers, however, who had 
guarded the prince, and who had fulfilled their orders with such 
fatal determination, were afterwards promoted in the service, 
and received liberal rewards from their sovereign. 



CHAPTER VI. 

CATHERINE PROMOTES THE INTERESTS OF SCIENCE AND LITERATURE.— 
CORRESPONDENCE WITH DIDEROT. — AFFAIRS OF GALLANTRY IN HER 
COURT. — SPLENDID FEATS AND EXHIBITIONS AT ST. PETERSBURG. — 
SHE REFORMS THE COMPLICATED JURISPRUDENCE OF RUSSIA. — 
HER COURT BECOMES THE ASYLUM OF DISTINGUISHED MEN OF 

LETTERS. PARTITION OF POLAND. PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA. 

HE VISITS CATHERINE. HER FIRST INVASION OF THE TURKISH 

DOMINIONS. ROMANTZOP. HE VANQUISHES THE TURKISH ARMY. 

BATTLE OF KAGUL. — CONSPIRACY AGAINST PONIATOSKY, NOW KING 
OF POLAND. — ITS FAILURE. — ORLOF's DISMISSAL AS IMPERIAL FAVOUR- 
ITE. VASSILTCHIKOF BECOMES FAVOURITE. 

The compreliensive mind of Catherine was not confined in 
its activity, to the political interests which demanded her 
attention, or even to the cares of her personal safety. She 
promoted the interests of literature and science, and became 
the ardent patron of these noblest pursuits of man. She 
herself corresponded with Yoltaire and D'Alembert. She in- 
f ited the latter to assume the place of tutor to the Grrand Duke, 
her son. She tendered him a munificent salary of twenty- 
five thousand livres. She assured him that he should have 
all necessary facilities for completing the Encyclopedia at St. 
Petersburg. To Diderot she also made the most liberal offers. 

(79) 



80 HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 

She purchased his library at an enormous price. She allowed 
him to retain it in his possession, and gave him a salary as 
her librarian. She presented to Morand, a distinguished sur- 
geon of the day, a collection of gold and silver medals, as a 
testimony of the satisfaction which she felt at receiving the 
surgical instruments which he had purchased for her. To 
almost all the men of letters at Paris, she sent some testimo- 
nials of her regard; who, in return, proclaimed her virtues 
to the world, and represented her in glowing colours as the 
ornament and the glory of the age. . 

She pretended also to be the patron of virtue and of rigid 
morals ; as if the world was unacquainted with the immense and 
vicious license which she allowed herself in reference to such 
matters. An affair of gallantry occurring at this time between 
the British Minister and one of her maids of honour, she dis- 
missed the latter from the court, and forbade the former to 
appear there for some time. Two of her ladies being at a 
masquerade, were talking rather loudly concerning one of their 
admirers. The Empress went up to them, and with a stern, 
voice, ordered them to leave the ball-room, since they knew no 
better how to preserve decorum in her presence ! 

She next purchased the admiration of the inhabitants of 
St. Petersburg by the exhibition of splendid tournaments and 
other festivals. The Russian courtiers, arrayed in the armour 
of the Middle Ages, displayed their magnificence and gallantry, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 81 

their feats of strength and dexterity. An amphitheatre was 
erected on the occasion. In the centre of the arena was a 
throne, occupied by the judge of the performances, surrounded 
by forty of his officers and heralds. The ladies of the court 
jousted at these^ tournaments, as well as the chevaliers. They 
were divided into four quadrilles, representing four different 
nations 3 Russians, Turks, Indians, and Romans, and were ar- 
rayed in splendid armour, according to the costumes of iheir res- 
pective communities. The Romans, led on by the gallant Count 
Orlof, the imperial favourite, were magnificent and brilliant 
beyond description. The aged and chivalrous Marshal Munich ' 
was appointed grand judge of the field, and decreed the prizes. 
Countess Butterlin, the sister of the Princesses Dashkof and of 
Vorontzof, the former mistress of Peter III., was the principal 
and most gallant victor ; her prize was valued at five thousand 
rubles. The venerable Marshal, in decreeing the premium, made 
a gallant address to the fair recipient. He alluded to the 
memorable fact that he had passed sixty-five years in military 
service. He had often led on mighty armies to glory and 
victory. He had seen and experienced the utmost vicissitudes 
of human fortune. He was the relic of another and a buried 
generation ; and was the oldest in rank, as well as in years, 
of all the generals in Europe. But the honour of presiding 
on that occasion, and of extending to her fair hand the prize 
7* 



82 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

slie liad so nobly won, was the crowning Lpnour of all his 
toils, his vicissitudes, and his triumphs. 

The immense company then sat down to a splendid banquet. 
The imperial gardens were illuminated ; the walks lighted with 
numerous arches of lamps, delicious fountains, and magnificent 
fire-works. These festivities lasted during many days and 
nights. 

The Empress also directed her attention to more serious de- 
partments of executive duty. The jurisprudence of Russia 
had become the most monstrous and confused mass, which per- 
haps existed in any country. It was full of intricacy, confu- 
sion, and contradiction. She resolved to reform this mighty 
curse. She divided the Senate into colleges, each having its 
separate line of duty, and set them to revise and classify the, 
chaotic elements. She did more. She proceeded to the pre- 
paration of a new code. The instructions to guide these com- 
pilers were of great length and elaborateness, and were drawn 
up in Catherine's own handwriting, and still remain deposited 
in the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg. 
When, after long-continued labours, the assembly had com- 
pleted their work, and were about to separate, they voted to 

her by general acclamation, the honourable titles of the Great, 
I 
" the Wise, the Mother of the Country. She made a present 

to each deputy of a gold medal, in order to transmit to pos- 
terity the purpose which had called them together, and the 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 83 

successful completion of their honourable task. She immedi- 
ately sent copies of the work to the m-incipal sovereigns of 
Europe. Among the complimentary replies which she re-- 
ceived was one from Frederic of Prussia, in which he said : 
" No woman has hitherto been a legislatrix. That glory was 
reserved for you, who so well deserve it." . 

The brilliant court of Catherine now became the asylum of 
distinguished men of letters, from various countries of Europe. 
Among these was the celebrated Professor Euler, from Berlin. 
She encouraged artists and scholars of every grade. She gave 
new privileges to the Academy of Sciences, and increased its 
lustre by adding the names of many illustrious foreigners by 
election. A new era in literature and science, as well as in 
government, had shed its genial light over the vast dominions 
of the northern Autocrat. It was a light which owed its re- 
flected splendour to the brilliant supremacy of one master mind 
alone. 

The partition of Poland was a measure which originated with 
Catherine, and she had long corresponded with Frederic of 
Prussia respecting it. It would have been suspicious to the 
other powers of Europe had they held a public conference to 
arrange the necessary preliminaries. Prince Henry of Prussia 
was therefore sent to St. Petersburg for the purpose of ar- 
ranging this culpable enterprise. In 1770 he arrived in the 
Russian capital, and was received with discharge of cannon 



84 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

and other demonstrations of honour and welcome. He pre- 
sented himself at court with a numerous suite, and dined in 
public with the Empress. Each day was marked with some 
new festivity and entertainment. The most magnificent of 
these was given at the summer residence of the Empress, beau- 
tifully situated at the distance of twenty-four versts from St. 
Petersburg. At the approach of night, the Empress, the 
Grrand Duke, Prince Henry, and the principal persons of the 
court, repaired to this palace in an immense sledge drawn by 
sixteen horses, covered and enclosed by double glasses. The 
interior of the palace was illumined with innumerable wax 
lights. After a grand discharge of cannon, the lights were ex- 
tinguished, and the grounds were made resplendent with fire- 
works the whole length of the palace. After these were 
ended, the ball began, and the supper and dances continued 
till a late hour in the morning. 

It is curious to observe, by what subtle reasoning these 
royal robbers justified their aggressions upon the kingdom of 
Poland. A manifesto was issued at Warsaw, by the Russian 
and Prussian ministers, in the name of their respective sove- 
reigns, which was confirmed a few days after by the minister 
of Catherine, in which they set forth the intentions of their 
respective sovereigns. Catherine declared, in her specifica- 
tions, that the Count de Pergen was appointed her commis- 
sary, plenipotentiary, and governor, in the provinces claimed 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 85 

by her; the people were commanded to pay ready and full 
obedience to all that he should command ; and engaging her 
protection to all who were obedient to her commands, she 
solemnly promised to all her new subjects, the full and free 
exercise of their religion, the enjoyment of their property, 
rights, and privileges; and that if the nobility and landholders 
did not choose to yield to her demands, she gave them three 
months to dispose of their property, and leave her territories. 
But the most specious logic is used by the King of Prussia 
in defence of his part in this memorable robbery. He de- 
clares that the Kings of Poland, many ages since, violently 
dispossessed the Dukes of Pomerania of that part of their 
duchy called Pomerellia; that in the same way, they had 
usurped a large part of the Newmark, situated on the river 
Noltee ; that the Dukes of Stettin were the natural heirs of 
the defunct Dukes of Dantzic ; that the latter line becoming ex- 
tinct in AD. 1295, their territory became the property of the 
Knights of the Teutonic Order, from whom they passed into 
the hands of the Kings of Poland; by all which means the 
house of Stettin was deprived of its rights, and that the house 
of Brandenburg were the sole and certain heirs of the house of 
Stettin. The acute Frederic added, that the Dukes of Stettin 
had never renounced their rights to Pomerellia ; to which true 
assertion of the King it was shrewdly answered, that such a 
renunciation never took place, for a very excellent reason ' • 



86 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

because those Dukes never possessed nor even claimed sucli 
rights, until they were asserted by the King of Prussia. 

It was thuS; by going back into remote and obscure ages, 
the records of which were long since lost, and pretending to 
turn over the dusty tomes of antiquarian lore, that the cunning 
Prince presumed that he could assert some show of justice 
and of right for the share which he took of the unholy spoils 
of Poland. But neither his efforts, nor the protestations of 
his royal associates in that memorable act of plunder, can ever 
wipe away the blot of infamy which rests upon their memory, 
in rudely tearing asunder one of the most valiant and honour- 
able nations that ever existed. 

It was in their private interviews that the princes planned 
the destruction of the gallant land of John Sobieski. The 
dismemberment of this kingdom, which afterwards took place, 
was in furtherance of the arrangements there made, and the 
compacts there entered into. 

At this period, however, Catherine turned her immediate 
energies for conquest, toward the Turkish dominions. A 
squadron of Kussian men-of-war sailed from Archangel, and 
steered their hitherto unattempted course toward the Mediter- 
ranean. The fleet consisted of twenty-five sail of the line. 
They were under the. supreme command of Alexius Orlof, 
who had been raised to the dignity of Admiral. All Europe 
» was astonished, to see a nation hitherto unknown in the annals 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 87 

of naval warfare and conquest, send forth an expedition so 
important and so adventurous. Catherine sent a large land 
force to co-operate with the navy, under the command of Count 
Romantzof The Russians opened the campaign hy the siege 
of Bender, the place celebrated as the long retreat of Charles 
XII. Two signal victories gained by the Russians, decided 
the campaign. The Turks, to the number of eighty thousand 
men, commanded by the Khan of the Crimea, were vanquished 
on the borders of the Pruth. The beaten side retreated 
toward the Danube, where they were reinforced by an immense 
army, led on by the Grand Yizier. Romantzof found himself 
in the presence of a hundred and fifty thousand Turks ; and 
his situation was the more desperate, as he had detached a por- 
tion of his own troops for the protection of a convoy which 
was approaching. 

The enemy, aware of the situation of the Russian general, 
spread out his line far to the left of the Russian army, en- 
compassing it in such a manner as to render retreat impossible. 
The latter numl^ered only eighteen thousand men. During 
the night, the Turks surrounded their camp with a triple 
•intrenchment. The same interval was employed by the 
Russian general in making the utmost preparations for the 
ensuing struggle. Placed in the most perilous situation, with 
inevitable defeat and destruction staring him in the face, he 
was yet undaunted and undismayed. He gave his orders with 



88 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

calmness and self-possession. He exhorted his troops to 
victory or death. He held out to his -officers the brilliant 
rewards which would recompense valour and heroism, at the 
hands of their munificent Empress. He encouraged them 
with the assurance that this one battle gained, would end the 
war, and secure them a permanent and glorious triumph. 

When the morning dawned, the haughty Mussulmans be- 
held the Russian forces in glittering armour and perfect order, 
drawn out in battle array. The Grrand Vizier gave the signal of 
battle. The Russians were attacked on all sides at once. The 
fury of the conflict raged for five hours ; and as yet no decided 
advantage had been gained by either party. At length the 
Russian general, fearing that the vast artillery of the Turks 
would complete the ruin of his entire army, ordered the whole 
line to charge with fixed bayonets. The onslaught of the des- 
perate Russians was terrible ; its efiect was irresistible. They 
drove the Turks within their intrenchments, where they de- 
fended themselves with courage. But their undisciplined 
valour at length gave way to the skill and resolute attacks of 
the Russians, and their defeat was total and complete. The 
Grand Vizier himself gave the signal for retreat, leaving one- 
third of his army on the field of battle. The greater part of 
bis baggage, and of his stores, together with one hundred and 
forty pieces of cannon, and seven thousand wagons laden with 
provisions, became the booty of the victorious Russians. This 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 89 

great victory was obtained at Kagul, in the month of July, 
1770. 

The news of these signal successes filled Catherine with 
pride and pleasure ; while they also served to seat her more 
securely on her throne. The disafiected dared no longer con- 
spire against a Princess who was so triumphant at home and 
abroad ; in the cabinet and in the field ) who was so great in 
statesmanship, and so fortunate in arms. The public rejoicings 
at St. Petersburg were great. Magnificent festivities were 
given to celebrate the victories won ; and the Empress caused 
the foundations of a palace to be laid, to commemorate these 
glorious events. In 1771, Count Alexius Orlof returned to 
the Russian capital to enjoy the reward of his toils. He was 
honourably received, and was decorated with the grand riband 
of St. Greorge. After spending some time at St. Petersburg, 
he proceeded to return to the seat of the war in the Archipe- 
lago. He stopped on his way at Vienna, and there on several 
occasions displayed the fierceness and brutality for which he 
was remarkable. One evening at supper at the Russian am- 
bassador's hotel, he openly detailed the horrid incidents con- 
nected with the murder of Peter III., which had never before 
been repeated by any of the eye-witnesses to that dreadful 
scene. When at Rome, and at supper with a large and 
elegant company, he determined to display his extraordinary 

strength. With ease he broke in his hand several pieces of 
8 



90 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

crystal and iron. He then took between his thumb and finger 
an apple, which he crushed with such violence, that one of the 
pieces struck a royal duke who was present, in the face, and 
seriously hurt him. Every one present was much affected at 
the accident. Orlof alone looked on with perfect silence and 
indifference. This was the man whose powerful frame had 
crushed to death the feeble person of the unfortunate Peter III. 
The Poles had never taken kindly the Russian interference 
which had placed Poniatosky, the former lover and favourite 
of Catherine, upon their throne. A dangerous conspiracy was 
now hatched, to deprive him of his life, and to release Poland 
from the usurper. The conspirators were headed by a noble- 
man named Pulausky, a man of great intrepidity, and passion- 
ately devoted to the cause of Polish independence. He re- 
solved to get possession of the King's person. After swearing 
in the most solemn manner, either to take him alive, or to 
put him to death, the confederates, forty-three in number, 
entered Warsaw by different routes. They there ascertained 
that the King was to spend the ensuing evening at his uncle's. 
Prince Czartorinsky. About ten o'clock at night the King was 
returning to his palace, when suddenly the conspirators ad- 
vanced, and bade the coachman stop. One of the attendants 
was wounded by a pistol shot, and expired shortly afterward. 
The rest of the King's suite took to flight, leaving him alone, 
and at the mercy of the assassins. They took him by the 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 91 

collar, and dragged tim between their horses along the dark- 
est streets of his capital. Perceiving that his strength was 
failing him, and that he could no longer run on foot, they com- 
pelled him to mount one of their horses. Coming to the moat 
which surrounds Warsaw, they forced him to take the leap 
with them. The horse upon which he rode fell, and broke his 
leg, and the monarch's foot* was crushed. They then com- 
pelled him to mount another horse. At this crisis, the con- 
spirators unaccountably dispersed, leaving the King in charge 
of but seven of their number, under the orders of Kosiusky. 
These wandered about a loiig time with him in the dark forest 
by which they were surrounded. Soon after they found them- 
selves but one league from Warsaw, being confounded by the 
intricacy of the forest paths. The voices of the Russian patrols 
were heard. The conspirators were frightened and fled. The 
* king remained alone with Kosiusky. Then it was, that the 
captive monarch tried the effect of persuasion on his keeper. 
Kosiusky hesitated. He feared to break his oath. At length, 
upon receiving assurances of pardon, he conducted the King to 
a forest mill which stood at no great distance. Thence he sent 
a letter by a peasant, to the colonel of his guards, who in great 
haste came and delivered the King from his perilous position. 
Meanwhile the King's hat had been picked up, covered with, 
blood. The report of his assassination immediately spread, 
and Warsaw was in the utmost consternation. Some of the 



92 " HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

conspirators were afterward taken and executed. Kosiusky 
obtained his pardon, ^nd afterward retired to Italy, where 
Poniatosky settled a pension upon him. 

While this perilous adventure was happening at Warsaw to 
Catherine's former favourite, the vicissitudes of love and fortune 
were making changes among those who had succeeded him in 
her affections at Petersburg. The Empress was still much 
attached to Gregory Orlof. He on the contrary never felt 
any true affection for her, and his conduct was governed only 
by gratitude and ambition. He became cool in his attach- 
ment, after having possessed for years " the richest morsel of 
the earth," and declined in his assiduities. Catherine even 
detected him in some of his infidelities. It was not in 
woman's heart to forgive so great a dereliction of honour and 
duty. She herself became indifferent to the man who, as 
lover, had betrayed her, though he was still faithful to her as * 
a subject. 

But to love, was now an irresistible necessity of the warm- 
hearted Empress, and it was requisite for her to have a sub- 
stitute. The Chancellor Panin had discovered that Catherine 
often viewed with apparent pleasure a handsome lieutenant in 
the guards, named Vassiltchikof. An interview was arranged 
between them. The new aspirant pleased, because he was 
young and handsome. But he was deficient in talents, in 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 93 

experience, and in boldness. For the present, the Empress 
was satisfied with him, and Orlof seemed permanently removed 
from her person, and excluded from her affections. He soon 
received intelligence of the successor who had usurped his place, 
and immediately repaired to St, Petersburg. She gave orders 
that he should be excluded from her presence, and her apart- 
ments were carefully and doubly guarded. Then was given an 
exhibition of the baseness and degradation of human nature. 
As soon as it was known that the once powerful Orlof was in 
disgrace, the crouching sycophants, who before had crawled 
around his path, now stepped boldly forth to facilitate his ruin. 
Orlof, like all noble natures under similar circumstances, was 
undaunted, and felt only contempt for the despicable wretches 
who exulted in, and promoted his downfall. His courage re- 
mained unshaken. He refused to resign his respective offices 
about the Court. The consequence was, that he inspired his 
former mistress with admiration for his intrepidity ; and she 
acceded to his request that he might retain all his offices, titles, 
and dignities, and enter upon his travels honoured with the most 
magnificent presents, and testimonials of her esteem and friend- 
ship. He displayed throughout his journey the utmost pomp. 
He appeared at the court of Versailles in a coat, all the buttons 
of which were large diamonds. At Spa, he eclipsed in gran- 
deur, even the displays of the Duke of Orleans, at a later period 
8* 



94 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

termed Egalit^ ; and played for such high stakes, as terrij&ed 
the most daring and opulent adventurers. He lavished his 
wealth as became the lover and favourite of the mighty auto- 
crat of all the Kussias. 



CHAPTER VII. 

DREADFUL SCOURGE WHICH RAVAGED RUSSIA DURING 1771. — ITS DE- 
STRUCTIVE EFFECTS AT MOSCOW. — POPULAR FANATICISM. — ^MEASURES 
OF RELIEF TAKEN BY CATHERINE.— CONDUCT OF ORLOF. — MURDER 
OP ARCHBISHOP AMBROSE. — DECISIVE CONDUCT OP YERAPKIN, THE 

COMMANDANT. CATHERINE'S TREATMENT OP THE PRINCESS TARRA- 

KANNOF. — INTRIGUE OF ALEXIUS ORLOF. — HER UNHAPPY FATE. — 
JOURNEY OF THE GRAND DUKE OF RUSSIA TO THE COURT OP BER- 
LIN. — HIS ENGAGEMENT TO THE PRINCESS OF HESSE-DARMSTADT. 

HIS RETURN TO ST. PETERSBURG. 

While Catherine was engaged in these transactions^ and 

was amusing herself with pleasures, her subjects were suffering 

under the fatal power of a scourge, from which no human 

skill could protect them. In the year 1771, the plague 

ravaged the fairest portions of the interior of Russia; and 

thousands fell victims to its terrible effects. The ignorance 

of the physicians at Moscow, and the superstition of the people, 

increased its destructive fury. • At first, the physicians mistook 

the disease for an epidemical fever, and the populace, when 

they discovered the inability of the professors of the healing art 

to relieve their sufferings, and rescue them from death, became 

enraged, and pursued them everywhere with fury* It is well 

(95) 



96 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

known, that Turkey has long been the nest and birth-place 
of this disease. The peculiar habits of the Turks, and their 
want of attention to cleanliness, have been the prolific origin 
and cause of its existence. The army of Catherine, after 
defeating the Turks, in 1770, when they entered the towns 
and villages of the vanquished people, were met by an enemy 
more terrible than any human foe, in the shape of this disease. 
They brought it with them when they returned home ; where 
the folly of their generals contributed to render the case still 
more desperate. Greneral Stofeln, at Yaffy, where the pesti- 
lence raged with unusual power, issued orders that its name 
should not even be pronounced ; and compelled the attending 
physicians to draw up a statement in writing, declaring that it 
was only a spotted fever. The men fell dead upon the road 
in heaps. Thousands of them were thus carried ofi", and the 
citizens fled from their houses, and took refuge in the solitude 
of the forests. The havoc at length reached the general's 
own people, and he himself perished among its victims. The 
desertion of Yaffy was the only remedy for the ruin which 
seemed to impend over the whole army. So great had been the 
devastation among the troops, that two regiments and one 
battalion amounted together only to four hundred men. The 
baggage, which had been all packed up during the time of the 
plague, was brought out and opened, that the soldiers, who had 
served the summer campaign in their waistcoats alone, might 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 97 

have their coats during winter. The clothes were so infected, 
that the people who were employed to take them out, were 
immediately attacked with mortal ulcers. The free intercourse 
at the markets and churches now spread the contagion every- 
where. The soldiers robbed the infected houses of the dead ; 
thus increasing the spread of the disease. The commandant him- 
self was negligent of his duty ; the houses were not fumigated 
and ventilated; and he displayed the worst weaknesses of 
humanity, in ordering chests of linen and other goods to be 
brought from the houses of the dead, and stowed awa^ in his 
own cellars. Superstition added its horrors to the universal 
desolation. There was a captive Turk in the army, who pre- 
tended to be able to cure the disease by incantations. Thou- 
sands flocked around him. He wrote tickets containing these 
words in Arabic : great Mohammedj have j^ity for thi^ once 
on these dogs of Christians, for the sake of our deliverance 
from captivity ; and free them soon from the jyestilence P' 
The commandant caused this writing to be stuck on poles, 
upon the belfries of the Christian churches ; and the infatuated 
people, confiding in the absurd mockery, neglected the proper 
means of remedy, and imparted increased fury to the disease. 
Within a few months, one-fourth of the city had become victims 
to its ravages. 

On Christmas, 1771, the pestilence reached Moscow. The 
first step taken by the authorities was a bad one. They issued 



98 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

a proclamation asserting that the disease was not the plague. 
Some of the physicians and surgeons maintained the same 
position. The people thus neglected to take the proper pre- 
cautions. But as soon as the Empress heard the real facts of 
the case, she immediately despatched assistance to Kief and 
to Moscow. The calamity in these cities was already terrible. 
The contagion spread through the surrounding villages and 
suburbs, where at least forty thousand persons perished. In 
Moscow the ravages of the pestilence were terrific. In a few 
weeks three-fourths of the inhabitants of that city had perished. 
The dead lay unburied in the streets where they had fallen, 
or where they had been thrown out from the houses, spread- 
ing an increased pestilence around them. Catherine deter- 
mined to spare no exertions to stay the ravages of this curse, 
which had now become a national one ; and she sent Gregory 
Orlof, with extraordinary powers, to cheek, by all possible 
means, its extension. On this occasion she gave the sum of one 
hundred thousand rubles for that purpose. Orlof went daily 
to the senate, and every week an ukase was issued. He ap- 
pointed a commission of health, of which the most skilful phy- 
sicians were members. The monasteries, the churches, and 
even the palaces were turned into hospitals for the sick, and 
for retreats for children who had been made orphans by the 
disease. All physicians and surgeons, who were conspicuous for 
their diligence and devotion to the suffering, were handsomely 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. • QQ 

rewarded. These and other precautions were attended with 
the best effects. But the scieniific method of curing the 
disease had not yet been found out. Yery few of those who 
once caught it escaped with their lives. But these being shut 
up, the further progress of the pestilence was stopped. It was 
only thxj severity of winter which put an end to the disease in 
Moscow, and throughout the empire. At the beginning of 
September in this year, eight hundred persons had died each 
day, and this frightful number continued to prevail till De- 
cember. In January, 1772, the plague disappeared from 
Moscow. But scenes of strange folly and excess had occurred 
in that city, before that desirable result had been attained. 
The populace had displayed instances of the greatest frenzy 
and stupidity. Instead of using the wise precautions which 
the orders of Gregory- Orlof dictated to be done, they had 
relied principally on prayers offered to the images of the saints. 
In September, a crazy enthusiast of the lower class of the 
people, assembled a number of the rabble, and declared to 
them, that a picture of the Mother of God, near the Carvartskoi 
gate, had appeared to him ; had complained of the neglect of 
her worship ; and had promised to quell the pestilence by a 
miracle, if her worship was resumed. At this gate he con- 
tinued to stand, and to exhort the priests and people as they 
passed by. So great was the popular superstition, that no one 

seemed to doubt the truth of the absurd assertions of the 
E 



100 HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 

fanatic. The faithful from every portion of the city, flocked 
in multitudes to the picture of the saint ; they supplicated it 
with violent prayers and imprecations ; they brought orna- 
ments of dress to hang upon it ; they made presents to it, in 
gold and jewels. Numerous processions were made to her 
shrine. Those who were sick endeavoured to press forward 
to the picture ; and thus, by this very contact with others^ 
served to multiply the evil a thousand fold. The primate of 
Moscow, the Archbishop Ambrose, a virtuous and intelligent 
prelate, determined to put an end to these disgraceful scenes 
of popular fanaticism. The commandant, at his request, gave 
him five soldiers. These he sent secretly, in the darkness of 
the night, to carry away the picture, which had been the un- 
conscious cause of so much evil. But so constant was the at- 
tendance of the crowd before the picture, that the soldiers 
found it difficult to obtain access to it. They were driven off 
with great peril of their lives. The mob cursed the Arch- 
bishop ; they declared that he was a heretic ; they ran to the 
churches and rang the bells; they aroused the whole city, and 
proclaimed abroad the awful sacrilege which had been intended. 
The tumult, based on an ignorant and stupid excitement 
without any cause or intelligent ground, became universal, 
and threatened the life of the prelate. He managed to escape, 
however, and fled to the Donskoi monastery, situated a short 
distance out of the city. But a child, who saw him pass, ran 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 101 

and told whither he had fled. The tumultuous rabble hastened 
to the monastery, rushed into the church, and found the Arch- 
bishop on the steps of the altar. Neither the place, nor the man, 
was sufficient to protect him from the amazing fury of the mur- 
derous rabble. They seized him ; threw him upon the ground ; 
beat him on the head ; and at length completed his murder 
with their daggers. The body remained unburied until the 
following day, before the gate of the monastery. The multi- 
tude then ran back into the city, and commenced there the 
most outrageous excesses. They plundered the archiepiscopal 
residence. The most valuable goods they t-ook away ; the rest 
they destroyed. The wine cellars under the palace were 
entered, and plundered of their contents. The drunken 
rabble, now m-ore insane than ever, next turned their fury 
against the physicians and surgeons, whom they imagined to 
have caused, or increased, the pestilence. An Italian dancing 
master happened to come in their way. He must needs bg a 
physician, from his genteel appearance. They immediately 
broke his arms and legs, and left him lying in the street in 
that condition. The houses of the physicians were attacked 
and plundered. The crowd then proceeded to the principal 
hospital, from which the attendants and soldiers, amounting 
in all to several hundred men, escaped into the country, and 

thus evaded the popular fury. Things seemed to be approach- 
9 



102 HISTORY OF CATHERINJ] II. 

ing a desperate crisis, and active measures were soon to be 
taken to save the city from total ruin. 

The commandant, General Yerapkin, now determined to put 
down the insurrection at all hazards. He called out the troops 
in garrison, and paraded the city. Three hundred of the 
principal rioters were taken prisoners, and many were slain in 
the street. Vigorous measures, such as these, soon cooled 
the popular frenzy, abated their religious enthusiasm, and 
reduced them to their senses. But before this result wa£ 
efiected, many severe conflicts had occurred between the popu- 
lace and the military. To prevent the return of the disease 
in the following spring, Catherine caused it to be proclaimed 
throughout the city, that whoever kept in concealment any 
goods which had been in houses infected by the disease, even 
though he. had stolen them, if he refused to give them up, 
should be punished ; but if he produced them, to be destroyed, 
he should be liberally rewarded. Gregory Orlof displayed 
throughout all these trying scenes, the most commendable 
fortitude. He took such measures as both tended to diminish 
the ravages of the pestilence, and also to quell the popular 
frenzy, which was more disgraceful than the disease had been 
injurious. When he returned again to Moscow, in January, 
1772, he was received with signal honour by his magnificent 
sovereign, who had herself won the affections of her afflicted 
subjects by the solicitude she had displayed for their welfare 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 103 

It was in the year 1772, that Catherine II. degraded herself 
by the perpetration of one of the few disgraceful acts, which 
sully her reputation as a sovereign, and still more, as a woman. 
The Empress Elizabeth, by her secret marriage with Razumosky, 
had three children. The youngest of these was an interesting 
girl, brought up under the name of the Princess Tarrakannof. 
Prince Eadzivil; informed of this secret, and irritated at Cathe- 
rine's trampling under foot the rights of the Poles, imagined 
that the daughter of Elizabeth would furnish him with a suc- 
cessful instrument of revenge. He determined to oppose her 
claims to the throne against those of the ambitious Empress, 
who was devastating his native land. Perhaps he even enter- 
tained higher and more aspiring hopes, that he might one day 
share the throne, to which he proposed to elevate the innocent 
princess. He gained over the persons to whom her education 
had been intrusted, and conveyed her to Rome. 

The vigilant Catherine obtained intelligence, through her 
spies, of the intentions of Radzivil, and of the elevation des- 
tined for the princess. She caused all his estates to be seized, 
and reduced' him to the necessity of living on the valuable 
jewels which he had carried with him into Italy. But these 
resources were soon exhausted. Eadzivil set out to obtain 
what information he could, concerning political affairs in 
Poland, leaving the princess in Rome, under the care of a 
single governante, and living in very limited circumstances. 



104 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

As soon as he reached Poland, an offer was made to him that 
all his estates would be restored, if he would convey the prin- 
cess into Russia. This offer he refused with indignation 
He saw at once that it was a plot for the destruction of the 
youthful princess. Yet he was so far won over by the pros- 
pect of returning wealth, that he promised to give himself no 
further trouble about her, and her future fortunes. 

Alexius Orlof was then employed by Catherine to accomplish 
her cruel purpose. She sent him to Italy. He landed at 
Leghorn. He thence proceeded to Rome. There, he soon 
• discovered the residence of the young princess, by means of 
one of those intriguers so common in Italy. This man, whose 
name was Ribas, introduced himself to her as a Russian officer. 
He told her that he had come there for the sole purpose of 
paying his homage to the princess whom he believed to be his 
lawful sovereign. He seemed very much affected at the des- 
titution in which he found her, and offered her some assistance, 
which necessity compelled her to accept. 

When this villain supposed that he had sufficiently prepared 
the way, he announced that he was commissioned by Alexius 
Orlof, to offer to the daughter of Elizabeth, the throne which 
had been once filled by her mother. He said that the Russians 
were dissatisfied with Catherine ; that Orlof especially, would 
never forgive her ingratitude and tyranny; and that if the 
young princess would accept of the services of that general, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 105 

and recompense liim with the gift of her hand in marriage, 
she would soon see the breaking out of the revolution which 
would place her triumphantly on the throne of her ancestors. 

The princess could not resist the temptation of proposals so 
brilliant. She had been taught by Radzivil to expect a career 
of this exalted character. With a grateful heart she acknow- 
ledged the obligations under which she was placed to the count ; 
and acquiesced in all the proposals which were thus made. 
He was then introduced to her. He was received with joy. 
And, although the princess was cautioned by some of her 
friends, to be on her guard against a man so dissolute and so 
treacherous as Orlof, yet she never for one moment, doubted 
his sincerity and good faith. She even frankly spoke of their 
suspicions to Orlof, who easily justified himself, and threw a 
deeper shade of dissimulation and deceit around his future 
actions. He pretended to love her ; and inspired the unhappy 
princess with a reciprocal flame. She consented to marry him. 
She thought that her being the wife of Count Orlof, would 
prove a sufficient protection, against any of the conspiracies 
which were formed against her. Pretending that he wished 
the ceremony to be performed according to the Grreek ritual, 
he employed several villains to represent themselves as Grreek 
Priests, and to perform a semblance of the rite of marriage 
between them. 

As soon as Orlof had become her husband, or rather her 



•^; 



106 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

ravisher, he represented to her, that their stay at Rome exposed 
them to too much scrutiny ; and he proposed to reside in some 
other city. Supposing that this proposition was the result 
only of affection and prudence, she replied, that she was willing 
to go wherever he chose to conduct her. It seems scarcely 
possible, that human depravity could be so great as to take 
advantage of simplicity so childlike and so confiding, in order to 
work the ruin of an unsuspecting victim. To further the plot, 
a division of the Russian squadron had been ordered to Leg- 
horn. Orlof told the princess that his presence was necessary 
at that city, to give some orders to the fleet. He proposed to 
conduct her thither. To this she willingly agreed, as she 
said she had heard many praises of the port of Leghorn, and 
desired to behold its romantic beauties. 

On arriving at Leghorn, she lodged at the house of the 
English consul. She was there treated with great respect, by 
a large attendance of distinguished persons. Wherever she 
went, she became the object of respectful attention. At the 
theatre all eyes were directed to the box which she occupied. 
Every circumstajuce tended to remove from her mind all sus- 
picion of treachery. It is probable fhe English consul, anu 
those who united with him, in these testimonies of regard to the 
exiled Russian princess, were innocent of any guile themselves, 
and were ignorant of the unhappy fate which impended over 
their unfortunate guest. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 107 

So unsuspicious was she, that after spending several days in 
a round of amusement and pleasure, she herself expressed a 
desire to visit the Russian ships which rode at anchor in the 
port. The necessary orders were immediately given. Every- 
thing was soon ready for receiving the princess. On her 
coming to the water side, she was handed into a boat covered 
with magnificent awnings. The consul and several ladies 
seated themselves with her. A second boat conveyed the 
Russian Admiral Grrieg, and Count Orlof ; and a third was 
filled with Russian and English soldiers. An immense multi- 
tude witnessed their departure from the shore. They were re- 
ceived by the fleet with music, with salutes of artillery, and 
with loud huzzas. As the princess came alongside the ship, of 
which she was to go on board, an elegant chair was let down 
from the yard, in which she was hoisted on deck. 

But the moment that the unhappy princess was on board, 
she was handcufied. In vain she besought with tears the pity 
of her brutal betrayer, whorH she still dignified by the outraged 
name of husband. In vain she threw herself at his feet, and 
bedewed them with her tears. He did not even deign to 
bestow an answer to her supplications. She was rudely forced 
down into the hold, and there instantly put in chains. On 
the next day the fleet immediately set sail. When the prin- 
cess arrived in St. Petersburg she was confined in a fortress, 
and her subsequent fate is buried in oblivion. It has been 



108 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

said, that six years afterward, when the waters of the Neva 
rose to an extraordinary height, she was drowned in her prison. 
A different rumour ran, that she died hy the sword of the exe- 
cutioner a few months after the commencement of her cap- 
tivity. But whatever may have been herlunhappy fate, a 
more sad and mournful instance than this, of unfeeling crueltyj" 
inflicted upon an innocent and confiding woman, does not 
disgrace the blood-stained annals of tyrants and of assassins. 
It teaches to mankind an instructive lesson, as to the omnipo- 
tent sway which one controlling passion may exercise over 
minds otherwise not badly organized, and possessed even of 
many admirable virtues. In this case, the supreme influence 
of Catherine's ambition is exhibited in her disposition, and is 
seen in her willingness, to destroy for ever the happiness and 
the hopes of an innocent and virtuous woman ; of a person who, 
had she not been misled by the crafty insinuations of Orlof, 
had never even contemplated the project of ascending a throne ; 
though her title had at least some show of justice. 

In 1773, the Grrand Duke of Russia set out upon his long- 
projected journey to Berlin. Catherine sent for Field Marshal 
Komantzof, from his government of the Ukraine, that he might 
accompany the prince during his travels. He accompanied 
Prince Henry of Prussia, then on his second journey to St. 
Petersburg, and on their departure the Empress declared to 
the two eminent persons who journeyed with her son : " It is 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 109 

only to the friendship of Prince Henry, and to the most illus- 
trious defender of my throne, that I can consent to trust my 
son/' When the Prussian prince took leave of Catherine, she 
seemed to be much affected : but she had become so skilful an 
adept in the princely art of disguising her sentiments, and 
pretending the deepest emotions, while her heart remained un- 
touched, that it would perhaps be unwise to ascribe much 
sincerity to these demonstrations of attachment. 

But Prince Henry had scarcely reached Riga, before he re- 
ceived several letters from her. The following is that which 
she wrote him with her own hand : " I take the liberty of trans- 
mitting to your Royal Highness the four letters of which I 
spoke to you, and of which you promised to take charge. The 
first is for the King, your brother. The others are for the 
Prince and Princess of Wirtemberg. I venture to ask you, 
that if my son should bestow his heart on the Princess So- 
phia, as I have no doubt he will, to delivei' the three letters 
according to their direction, and to support the purport of them 
with that persuasive eloquence with which Grod has gifted you. 
The convincing and repeated proofs which you have given me 
of your friendship, the high esteem which I have conceived 
for your virtues, and the extent of the confidence which you 
have taught me to repose in you, leave me no doubt of the 
success of an enterprise which I have so much at heart. It 
was not possible for me to place it in better hands. Your 



110 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Royal Highness is assuredly an unique in the art of negotia- 
tion. Pardon me that expression of my friendship. But I 
think that there never has been an example of an affair of this 
nature, transacted as this is. Accordingly it is the produc- 
tion of the most intimate friendship and confidence. That 
princess will be a pledge of it. I shall not be able to see her 
without recollecting in what manner this business was begun, 
how it was continued, and how it terminated, between the 
royal houses of Russia and Prussia. May it perpetuate the 
connexions which unite us I — I conclude, by very tenderly 
thanking your Highness for all the cares, and the various 
troubles you have given yourself; and I beseech you to be as- 
sured, that my gratitude, my friendship, and the high con- 
sideration which I now entertain for you, can only terminate 
with life itself." 

After stopping for twenty-four hours at Riga, and witnessing 
the evolutions of some troops placed there, the princes pro- 
ceeded to Mittau, where they were received by the Duke of 
Courland. This person was the son of the famous Duke Biren, 
whom Catherine had recalled from banishment, and who had 
just finished his long and stormy career. The Grafid Duke 
having arrived at Berlin, received the honours which were 
due to his rank. Prince Henry presented him to the King, 
who came out to meet them at the entrance of his apartment 
The Grand Duke then addressed the King in these words : 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. Ill 

'^ The motives which bring me A'om the extremities of the 
North to these happy regions, are a desire to assure your 
Majesty of the friendship and alliance which must henceforth 
for ever subsist between Kussia and Prussia ; and my eagerness 
to see a princess who is destined to ascend the throne of the 
Eussian empire, who will be more dear to me because she has 
been received at your hands/' The prince added the satisfac- 
tion which he felt in beholding the greatest of modern heroes, 
the admiration of the age, and the astonishment of posterity. 

Here the King interrupted him by saying : '^ Instead of 
which, you behold only a gray-headed valetudinarian, who 
could never have wished for a greater happiness, than that of 
welcoming within these walls, the hopeful heir of a mighty 
empire, the only son of my best friend, the great Catherine V 
The King, tben, turning toward the veteran Marshal, added : 
" Welcome, conqueror of the Ottomans ! I find a great re- 
semblance between you and my General Winterfeldt." The 
Marshal courteously replied : ^^ I am ambitious to resemblcj 
even outwardly, a general who has so gloriously difaLinguished 
himself in your Majesty's service.'' 

After these courtly compliments had passed, which meant as 
much as the compliments of princes usually mean, the K^g-and 
princes proceeded to the apartments of the Queen, where many 
distinguished persons were assembled. Here the Grand Duke 
saw, for the first time, the Princess Sophia of Hesse-Darm- 



112 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

stadt, to whom he was to be allied. Prince Henry, in the name 
of the Empress of Russia, made a formal demand of the hand 
of the princess for the Grand Duke, and the ceremony of the 
contract took place the same day. Feasts and entertainments 
of a splendid description followed this happy event, at Ghar- 
lottenburg, at Potsdam, at Sans Souci. The Russian Marshal 
was much delighted with witnessing the grand evolutions of 
the garrison at Potsdam. The aged King, who had witnessed 
so many fearful conflicts, made his troops perform their ma- 
noeuvres by square battalions, in imitation of the bloody battle 
of Kagul, where the Russians gained a complete victory over 
the Ottomans. Prince Henry then accompanied the Grand 
Duke to the castle of Reinsburg, where he gave him an enter- 
tainment, which lasted four days, with great magnificence. 
On the third of August, 1776, the Grand Duke took leave of 
the royal family, and returned to Russia. 



CHAPTER Vni. 

mabbiage op catherine's son, the grand duke. — diderot visits 
st. petersburg. — ^voltaire declines catherine's invitation. — 
Catherine's intrigues. — her fears op a conspiracy. — down 
pall of vassiltchikof. — return of orlop to the position op 
favourite. — catherine embellishes st. petersburg. — her do- 
mestic habits. — history of the formidable conspiracy op 
pugatschef. — its overthrow. 

It was in 1773 that the dismemherment of Poland was 
continued, through the oombined agency of the sovereigns of 
Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The indignant Poles exclaimed 
against the outrage. They claimed, though in vain, the inter- 
ference of the other powers of Europe. To give some show 
of justice to their proceedings, the three sovereigns advised 
the Poles to convene a diet, to settle and arrange their diifi- 
culties. The diet was convoked on the 19th of April. The 
deputies were soon bought over by promises and money. 
They finally passed a decree approving of the dismemberment 
which had been made, as being dictated by prudence and a 
wise regard of the peculiar circumstances of the Polish nation. 
By this partition, Poland lost five millions of inhabitants. Of 

these, the lion's share fell to Russia, containing one million 
10 (113) 



114 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

and a half of inhabitants. Prussia acquired nine hundred 
thousand inhabitants, and the commerce of the Vistula, to- 
gether with Elbing, Dantzig,^ and Thome. The rest of the 
plundered territory fell to the lot of Austria. The King of 
Poland was, in the mean while, a mere tool in the hands of the 
monarchs who were thus carving out his territories. This 
fact is illustrated by the treatment he received from their 
respective ambassadors. On one occasion, when visiting Stack- 
elberg, the Russian minister, the latter was engaged at a game 
of cards, when the King entered. The minister did not even 
rise from the game, but sat still, showed the King a chair, and 
familiarly beckoned to him to sit down. The Russian minkter 
was, in truth, the real sovereign at Warsaw. 

Catherine had, as we have said, been meditating a matrimo- 
nial alliance for her son, the Grand Duke. But as that prince 
was of a weak constitution, and a cold temperament, she had 
feared that his marriage would be of no service so far as pro- 
curing heirs to the empire was concerned. She soon determined 
to test the truthfulness of her suspicions. Her confidants placed 
the prince in the society of a beautiful Polish widow, named 
Sophia Ossipoona, a lady of easy and compliant virtue. The 
result of their acquaintance was, in due time, the birth of a 
son, who was named Simeon. This person afterward served 
in the navy ; reached the rank of lieutenant ; and died in the 
West Indies in 1797. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 115 

Assured in this manner of the propriety of her son's 
marriage, Catherine returned to the task of arranging his 
nuptials. She sought for a princess, in the greatest degree un- 
like herself ; one unfit to govern, and unambitious of authority. 
After the Grand Duke's visit to Berlin, as already narrated*, 
she invited the Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt and her mother 
to her court. They came. The Empress received them with 
magnificence. The Princess Sophia embraced the Greek 
religion, and was joined in marriage to the heir of the Czars. 
This event occurred on the 10th of August, 1773. It was 
■" solemnized by the Archbishops of Novogorod and St. Peters- 
burg. The festivities of the occasion were continued from the 
iOth to the 21st of the month, and the cathedral in which the 
ceremony was performed, was graced with the nobility of the 
Russian nation. An attempt was made, upon this marriage 
of the Grand Duke, by his enemies at court, to obtain Count 
Panin's disgrace ; as it was supposed the marriage of his pupil 
would put an end to his influence over him. They were de- 
ceived in their calculations. The aged Count retained his posi- 
tion and his influence, though opposed with the greatest vehe- 
mence by Gregory Orlof. The true secret of the security of 
his position was unknown to his enemies, and baffled all their 
intrigues. He j)ossessed the afi'ection and support of his former 
pupil, the Grand Duke, whose influence with his mother was 
decided. 



116 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Catherine was honoured in 1773, at St. Petersburg, with a 
visit from the illustrious philosopher Diderot.* Voltaire, 
taught wisdom, or caution, by his experience at the court of 
Frederic the Great, declined the invitations which the Empress 
extended to him to visit her. Diderot was more easily per- 
suaded. Catherine lavished upon him encomiums and pre- 
sents. During his stay at St. Petersburg, she entered into 
familiar conversation with him daily at her table. The subjects 
of their discussions were various and profound — philosophy, 
politics, religion, and literature, all were freely dwelt upon by 
those master minds. Diderot expounded his principles on the 
subject of the rights of nations, with eloquence, enthusiasm, 
and power. His illustrious hostess was charmed with the 
richness of his ideas. Of him she said : " M. Diderot is a 

* Catherine, though she admired Diderot's splendid genius, placed 
but little confidence in his practical ideas. She held long and frequent 
conferences with him. Respecting these, she has left her opinions 
on record. Says she, "Had I placed faith in him, eyery institution 
in my empire would have been oTerturned ; everything would have 
been changed, for the purpose of substituting some impracticable 
theories. I said to him, ' M. Diderot, I have listened with the greatest 
pleasure to all v^hich your brilliant genius has conceived and expressed, 
but all your fine principles, though they "will make fine books, v^ould 
make sad havoc in actual practice. You forget, in all your plans for 
reformation, the difference between our two positions. You work on 
paper, which is tractable to everything, while I, a poor Empress, 
must work on human nature, which is irritable and easily offended.' " 
Vide Memoirs of the Count de Segur, Vol. I., p. 22 J. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 117 

hundred years old in many respects ; in others he is not more 
than ten/' Her correspondence with Yoltaire was voluminous 
and regular, and is an honour to both parties. By associations 
of this kind, Catherine added another proof to the many already 
existing, of the superiority of her intellect ; and of her claim to 
that high praise which she has secured, as a woman of enlarged 
understanding and exalted mind. She furnishes another of 
those many remarkable instances recorded in history, of natures 
which are capable of the two greatest extremes of vice and 
virtue ; of elevation and degradation ; of honour and of infamy. 
Attentive as she was to the interests of her empire, Cathe- 
rine had not bidden adieu to pleasure, or lost her appetite for 
intrigue. She passed with easy facility from the council 
chamber to the theatre ; from the sittings of the senate, to the 
flirtations of the ball-room, and to the dalliance of her boudou'. 
Easy in her new attachments, she never referred to those which 
had gone before. But it is said, that even at this period of 
triumph and pleasure, she often gave evidence of being ill at 
ease in her mind, and of being tortured by the fear of conspi- 
racies and assassination. She sometimes trembled for her 
life. One day she found a paper in her cabinet threatening 
her with violence. She could not conceal her agitation ; yet 
in public, she was able to assume the appearance of confidence 
and security. Whatever were the emotions which swayed her 
mind, she always presented to others an aspect of gentleness. 



118 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

clemency, sincerity, and generosity. At this period, she offered 
the remaining member of the family of the murdered Ivan 
his liberty, T7ith the means of retiring to Germany. '^ Why 
should I go," said he, '^out of the Russian empire, only to 
proclaim elsewhere my misery, and to excite the unavailing 
commiseration of mankind ?'' He refused to embrace her 
offer, and remained in his prison. 

The favourite, who at this time was uppermost in Catherine's 
regard, was Vasiltchikof. He possessed a quality rare among 
courtiers 3 that of moderation and sincerity. He never abused 
his influence to obtain exorbitant riches; and consequently, 
he created no enemies, and excited no jealousy. Catherine 
frequently praised these rare merits in the object of her regard. 
But suddenly and unaccountably, a mysterious change came 
over his imperial mistress and her feelings toward him. . With- 
out any offence or fault on his part, he was dismissed to Mos- 
cow, though loaded with presents, and consoled by the parting 
tenderness of Catherine. The real truth appeared immediately 
after. Count Orlof had returned from his travels, after an 
absence of several years. The sight of him probably revived 
old and pleasing associations in the susceptible heart of the 
Empress ; and she could not resist that fascination, whose power 
she had experienced in former times. Eleven years passed 
near the person of the Empress, had made him, as it were, a 
necessary appendage to herself; though during the period of 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 119 

his absence from her presence, he had not conducted himself 
in a manner worthy of his relation to her. Instead of main- 
taining the dignity of his rank, and his former position, he 
seems to have delighted in contradictions. In a condition to 
keep a magnificent establishment, he almost always dined with 
his servants. He was not more choice in his amours. It 
seemed indifferent to him, whether he enjoyed the embraces of 
a squalid Finlander, a savage Kalmuck, or the most beautiful 
and ^ fascinating Circassian. Catherine knew all this ; but 
the heart of woman is a mysterious enigma. It baflSes the 
diagnosis of the profoundest philosopher. The Empress was 
probably reminded, by her renewed attachment for Orlof, of the 
fresher and happier days and pleasures of her youth; when 
love possessed a charm and an intensity, which the cold hand 
of time, the crushing effect of many anxieties, the cares 
of state, as well as many personal perils, had now diminished. 
In his society she doubtless experienced a sympathy and har- 
mony of feeling which she could not enjoy in the attachment of 
any younger lover. 

Meanwhile, the Empress was not negligent of the improve- 
ment of her capital. St. Petersburg, summoned into a glorious 
being by the powerful enchantment of the genius of Peter the 
Great, had gradually grown to be a city of palaces : everything 
in it was colossal, like the empire it represented, and the genius 
which created it. It had become the city of magnificent dis- 



120 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

tances, and was justly the admiration of all strangers from 
every quarter of the globe. Catherine did not neglect its im- 
provement. The Neva and all its branches and canals, which 
intersected the city, were embanked with granite, with magni- 
ficent quays of the same material, and elegant balustrades of 
marble were constructed. Splendid bridges of hewed stone, 
and richly ornamented, spanned the river at convenient inter- 
vals. Palaces, and public offices of prodigious size, and ele- 
gant proportions, were built of marble, of different colours. 
She also erected many benevolent institutions, planned after 
the best models, and provided for them suitable buildings and 
appendages. Her capital, truly splendid before, now assumed, 
under the touch of her magic fingers, a gorgeous magnificence, 
which probably exceeded that of any other European city. If 
she had been admired and feared for her intrepidity in danger, 
for her success in diplomacy, for her triumphs in war ; she 
was now also praised and esteemed for the liberality and taste 
with which she cultivated the nobler arts of peace, and pro- 
moted the glory and happiness of her subjects. Her internal 
improvements were not confined to St. Petersburg alone. 
Other cities of her empire, Moscow, Kief, Novogorod, were 
also adorned by her liberal and munificent taste. Her emis- 
saries purchased, in other portions of Europe, galleries of 
paintings at enormous prices, which were transported to her 
own dominions, and added to the splendour of her own cities 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 121 

At this period (1774) of her life, Catherine may be said to 
have been at the zenith of her prosperity and her fame. She 
was now in the forty-fifth year of her age. She is described 
by contemporary historians as possessing that stature which 
is necessary to elegance of form and dignity of carriage. 
Her gait was majestic, self-possessed, and graceful. She 
seemed born to command, and was apparently fully conscious 
of her high destiny. Yet her features were not offensively 
masculine. They were those of an ambitious woman ; but 
still possessing a woman's sweetness, delicacy, and refinement. 
She had large blue eyes, full of feeling and expression. Her 
eyebrows and hair were of an auburn colour. Her mouth was 
well proportioned. Her chin was round and full. Her fore- 
head was regular and capacious. Her hands and arms were 
remarkably white and beautiful. Her complexion was not 
entirely clear; her neck and bosom high and full, and her 
figure rather plump than meagre. She was sprightly rather 
than grave; courteous, beneficent, and outwardly at least, 
devout in the observance of her religion. 

Her ordinary method of life was the following. She arose 
at six in the morning, even in the depth of the Russian winters. 
She usually made her own toilet with but very little attend 
ance ; it being a judicious maxim of hers, to require as little 
assistance from others as possible. She then breakfasted , 
that over, she signed the various commissions, orders, and 



122 HISTORr OF CATHERINE II. 

papers whicli required her signature. On days when the 
councit did not meet in her apartments, she was engaged in 
this manner from eight till eleven, in the forenoon. From 
this time till one, her various ministers had access to her. At 
half-past one she dined. After dinner the Empress usually 
rode out ; and at six she made her appearance at the theatre. 
After the performance was over she took supper, usually at 
ten o'clock ; after which she retired, unless a ball or festival 
was given at which she was to be present. She herself never 
danced, though she frequently took a game of cards. 
• By her express orders, no one could be condemned to death, 
until the facts were communicated to her, and she gave her 
approval. She became thoroughly acquainted with whatever 
concerned the administration of the government, in its various 
departments. The administration of justice could not be 
charged with rigour during her reign ; although she repealed 
the law of her predecessor Elizabeth, which had abolished the 
penalty of death in the Russian empire. She acted from 
sound policy by so doing ; because the fear of death is neces- 
sary to the human mind, to deter men from crimes of the fiercer 
sort. The merit also belonged to Catherine, that she inflicted 
this penalty with the wisest discretion, and only on the most 
urgent necessity. 

Notwithstanding the success of her administration, and the 
splendour of her reign, Catherine was called upon, in 1775, to 



EtISTORY OF CATHERINE IT. 123 

experience once more the anxieties attendant upon a formidable 
conspiracy, — tlie most dangerous with which she was threat- 
ened. This was the memorable insurrection of Pugatschef. - 

This adventurer was the son of a Cossack, and born in a 
village on the borders of the Don. He served at first as a 
common soldier in the army which the Empress Elizabeth sent 
against the King of Prussia in 1756. He afterward fought 
in 1769, under Count Panin, against the Turks. On the sur- 
render of the city of Bender, already spoken of, he asked his 
discharge, which was refused. He deserted and fled to Poland, 
and there became the inmate of a monastery of Grreek monks. 
On several occasions, persons who had seen the Emperor Peter 
III., exclaimed in surprise, that in Pugatschef they beheld 
their former sovereign ; so striking was the resemblance. It 
was this repeated proof which occurred to him from time to 
time, of the remarkable likeness between himself and that 
prince, which first suggested to his aspiring mind the project 
of heading an insurrection, on the pretence that he was the 
genuine Peter III., who had miraculously escaped from his 
assassins, and in whose place the murderers had substituted 
the corpse of another individual. 

He first set forth this pretence among the Cossacks of the 
Don. His retinue at first consisted of nine persons. In a 
week afterward, he was at the head of three hundred men. 
He now openly proclaimed himself to be Peter III. returned 



134 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

to claim his throne. Immediately five hundred more of the 
Cossacks came over to him. With these he commenced opera- 
tions, hy summoning the town of Yaitsk to surrender. He 
captured the place, and put many of the inhabitants to the 
sword. He next attacked Orenburg; and while the siege 
progressed, ten thousand Calmucks joined his ranks, together 
with a multitude of Poles, who had been banished from their 
native land to Siberia, and who embraced this opportunity to 
put an end to their exile, and the supposed cause of their 
misfortunes. By this time the spirit of rebellion had even 
reached Moscow. The influence and power of this formidable 
traitor had become tremendous. He strengthened his hold 
over the popular delusion, by wearing an episcopal robe, giving 
his benediction to the people, and declaring that he only wished 
to place his son Paul, the Grand Duke, upon the throne ; when he 
would return again to the silence and sanctity of the cloister. 
Had he at this crisis attacked- the city of Moscow, which was only 
garrisoned by six hundred men, and they perhaps disaffected 
toward the government, he could easily have made himself 
master of it. But, like Hannibal in Italy, he delayed to march 
upon the capital in the critical moment of destiny ; and having 
neglected to do so, the tide of fortune turned against him, and he 
could never retrieve the consequences of his error. Had 
Pugatschef properly improved his advantages at that crisis, 
such was the size of his army, and so great was the terror of his 



HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 125 

name, that, in all probability the haughty Empress would soon 
have ceased to reign, and might have paid the forfeit of her 
elevation with her head. But Pugatschef wasted the winter 
before Orenburg, and was there guilty of such vicious excesses, 
as soon destroyed the popular enthusiasm in his favour. Though 
already married, he took to wife a common prostitute of that 
place, and celebrated his nuptials with a bacchanalian licentious- 
ness, worthy of the occasion. 

Catherine had now become thoroughly alarmed at the pro- 
gress of a rebellion which seriously threatened the stability 
of her throne. She recalled Bibikof from the confines of 
Turkey. At the head of thirty-five thousand men, he advanced 
to the relief of Orenburg. Prince Galitzin also arrived at the 
scene of action with a large accession of troops. The hostile 
parties met, and a general engagement ensued. Pugatschef 
fought that day for five hours. He was routed ; was abandoned 
by his followers on all sides ; was compelled to flee ; and with 
difficulty escaped to the mountains of Ural. Yet he did not 
give the struggle up, but, collecting his scattered troops, he 
presented a formidable resistance to the generals of Catherine 
for some time afterward. He kept the field until all his forces 
had been dispersed by successive defeats. He then crossed 
the Volga, and retreated into the vast deserts which lie beyond 
it. Thither he was pursued by one of the Empress's generals, 
and at length the place of his retreat was discovered, and he 



126 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

surrounded. As he was prolonging his miserable life by 
gnawing the bones of a horse, one of the pursuing soldiers 
approached him saying : ^^ Come, thou hast been long enough 
Emperor."* Pugatschef fired a pistol and shattered the arm 
of one of the foremost. The rest of the Cossacks bound him, 
and took him a prisoner to their camp. He was put in chains 
at Yaitsk, the scene of his first successes. Thence he was 
conveyed to Moscow in an iron cage, in September, 1774. 
For some days be refused all sustenance, till his keepers forced 
the food down his throat. During his confinement he preserved 
a melancholy and unconquerable silence. On his trial, he 
still pretended, in justification of his conduct, that he was the 
real Peter III. His sentence was, that both his hands and 
feet should be cut off; that they should be shown to the 
people, and that he should afterward be quartered alive. By 
some persons it is said, that this sentence was mitigated by the 
humanity of the Empress. He was fib.'st beheaded, and his 
body afterward quartered. Others assert that to the benevo- 
lence of his executioner alone, he was indebted for this miti- 
gation of his sentence. Five of his principal accomplices 
were hanged, twenty more were subjected to the knout, and 
then sent to Siberia. He is said to have endured his fate with 
the most undaunted resolution.. He was an adventurer of 
superior intelligence; and under more favourable auspices 
would have doubtless achieved a happier destiny. 



CHAPTER IX. 

POTEMPKIN BECOMES FAVOURITE. — HIS IMPKUDENCE AND DISMISSAL.— 
THE POSITION OF FAVOURITE PECULIAR TO THE RUSSIAN SOVE- 
REIGNS. — OBSERVANCES ON THE ELEVATION AND CHOICE OF A FA- 
VOURITE. — HIS HONOURS AND EMOLUMENTS. — MODE OF HIS DIS- 
MISSAL. — POTEMPKIN REINSTATED AS - FAVOURITE. — HIS ATTEMPT 

TO INDUCE CATHERINE TO MARRY HIM. SHE SUBDIVIDES HER 

EMPIRE INTO VICE-ROYALTIES. ZAVADOSKY BECOMES FAVOURITE, 

AND POTEMPKIN PRIME MINISTER. — ENUMERATION OF CATHERINE'S 
FAMILY. 

The rebellion of Pugatschef having thus "been crushed, the 
dominions of Catherine relapsed into their wonted quiet and 
security. The malcontents everywhere resumed their duty. 
We return to the more obscure, though not less interesting 
details, connected with the intrigues of the palace and the 
capital. 

Catherine ha-d for some time been pleased with the beauty 

and noble air of Potem.pkin, the youthful soldier who, on the 

day of her usurpation, seeing her hat deprived of its feather, 

had taken his own, and offered it to her majesty, in the presence 

of her suite. Orlof was still nominally her favourite, though 

the flame of love now burned feebly in her breast toward him. 

(127) 



128 HISTOKY OF CATHERINE 11. 

She resolved to be better acquainted with Potempkin, and the 
first interview which occurred between them, was so well im- 
proved by Potempkin, that he secured at once a pre-eminence 
over all his rivals, in her regard. Their attachment however, 
remained for the present a secret one, in order not to wound 
the vanity of Orlof, who still remained, at least the nominal 
occupant of his old position. But Potempkin was imprudent, 
and was destined to learn a severe lesson of caution before he 
was finally established in the afi*ections of his sovereign. 

One day, playing at billiards with Alexius Orlof, he was so 
silly as to boast of the favour he enjoyed, and declared that 
he had sufficient authority at court, to remove any persons 
whom he might dislike. A quarrel ensued between the 
courtiers, and Potempkin received a blow, which for ever de- 
prived him of an eye. Nor was this his only misfortune. 
Gregory Orlof, informed of what had occurred, represented 
Potempkin's imprudence and presumption to the Empress in 
such light, that he received permission to retire to Smolensko, 
his native place. There he suffered much from vexation of 
mind, and also from his wound. His mind, harassed with 
chagrin, vacillated between a resolution to retire from the 
world, or entering again the career of a courtier. After re- 
maining at Smolensko a year, he found his condition intolera- 
ble. He wrote to the Empress, beseeching her to commiserate 
his feelings. He succeeded in touching the tender chord in 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE U. 129 

her breast, and she immediately sent him letters of recall, and 
reinstated him in the full possession of her favour. He was 
installed at the palace, during the temporary absence of Prince 
Orlof at his hunting seat. On Orlof 's return, he was astounded 
to see his place usurped by the new aspirant ; but his com- 
plaints and reproaches were of no avail, to remove the for- 
tunate man who Sad succeeded him. 

"We have had frequent occasion, in the progress of these me- 
moirs, to narrate the changes which took place, from time to 
time, in the favourites or lovers of the Empress. These persons 
were so important in their influence, and so prominent in their 
position, throughout her reign, that a history of her life which 
should exclude the details to which we refer, simply on grounds 
of delicacy, would convey a most imperfect and incomplete 
idea of the subject under consideration. The post of favourite 
in Russia was somewhat peculiar. Although many of the 
European princesses have indulged the same propensity, yet 
in Russia, under Catherine, the favourite occupied a posi- 
tion of more importance than was ever attained by a mere 
lover, under the auspices of any other European sovereign. 
It may therefore be proper to narrate more at length the 
circumstances connected with this singular and apparently 
anomalous position and character. 

It is an observation which we think history and experience 
will confirm, (that when kings reign, women govern; And that 



130 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

when women reign, men will rule. Not that the entire con- 
trol of a kingdom will be thus transposed under such circum- 
stances ; but that the reciprocal influence is so great as to 
justify the opinion or maxim which we have just asserted. 
Russia had been governed in a great measure, during the 
century preceding the accession of Catherine, by three Em- 
presses; by Anne, by the first Catherine, and by Elizabeth. 
Each of these women, in consequence of their peculiar tempera- 
ments, which demanded such an indulgence, had kept the post 
of favourite constantly occupied by persons who possessed 
their affections. To the contemporaries of Catherine, t-herefore,- 
her own conduct did not seem either monstrous or outrageous. 
To them it was not even indelicate or indecorous. They never 
for a moment thought of censuring a custom which had become 
a fundamental usage of the empire; a necessary appendage 
to imperial luxury and grandeur. Reasons of state, in the case 
of Catherine II., prevented her from entering into any matri- 
monial alliance. It was not to be presumed, that a woman of 
her temperament, as well as of 'her power, would submit to 
inconveniences which she might easily remove, or endure an 
annoyance which she might, with perfect impunity, remedy. 

The duties and distinctions of the favourites of Catherine 
were peculiar. When her Majesty had conceived a desire for 
the enjoyment of the society of any one of her subjects, she 
created him an aid-de-camp j in order that he might be near 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE JI. 131 

her person, without exciting remark or attention. Henceforth 
the Empress had a better opportunity to scan his person and his 
disposition. When the judgment which she formed was favour- 
able, she informed her female confidant of the fact, who com- 
municated his good fortune to him, who had been so deserving. 
The next day he received a visit from the Empress's physician, 
who examined into the state of his health, and carefully 
scrutinized his person. The report of this examination being 
favourable, he was the same day introduced to his apartments 
at the palace. These were immediately below those of the 
Empress, with which they communicated by a private stair- 
case. The first day of his installation, he received a present 
of -a hundred thousand rubles; and every month he found 
twelve thousand more on his dressing table. The Marshal of 
the court was commissioned to provide for him a table of 
twenty covers, and to defray all the expenses of his household. 
The favourite attended the Empress on all parties of pleasure ; 
at the opera, balls, promenades, and excursions. He was not 
allowed to leave the palace without express permission. The 
jealousy of the Empress required that he should not even 
converse familiarly with any other woman; and that if he 
'dined with any of his friends, the mistress of the house was 
not permitted to be present. 

There was also a peculiar mode of dismissing a favourite, 
when he no longer possessed the power to please his imperial 



132 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

patroness. He received permission to retire to a certain desig- 
nated place, at a distance from the residence of the Empress. 
But when he arrived there, he found awaiting him the most 
splendid presents, worthy of the magnificence and v^former 
affection of Catherine. He was at once secured, by an ample 
revenue, from the possibility of all future want or dependence. 
By this means she secured both his absence, and his grateful 
remembrance ; and at the same time, he was rendered disposed 
to cherish the reputation of his former patron with deference 
and respect. Only one of her favourites, as we shall afterward 
see, was ever guilty of betraying her confidence, or of treating 
their intimacy with derision ; and for that he was sufliciently 
punished.* 

* It serves as an illustration of the singular state of affairs in the 
court and capital of Catherine, that all the officers and courtiers, who 
made any pretensions to personal beauty, endeavoured, on every occa- 
sion, to throw themselves in the way of the Empress. The nobles 
of the court would sometimes give place to a good-looking man, know- 
ing that nothing gratified their sovereign so well, as to traverse her 
apartments between two rows of handsome youths. It was a situation 
which young men eagerly sought, and paid for, as opening a chance 
for the brightest fortunes ; and when they had obtained that position, 
they endeavoured to exhibit themselves to the greatest advantage. 
Many families even founded their hopes of advancement, on the suc- 
cess of some handsome young relation, to whom they strove to attract 
the attention of Empress ; just as other people endeavour to 'obtain 
brilliant matches for their daughters, and by their means to promote 
the languishing fortunes of their families. Vide Life of Catherine II. 
Zondon. 1809 jr^l TIT « RO 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 133 

Russia, during 1775, enjoyed a release from all foreign 
wars, as well as domestic commotions. TBe empire was in 
peace ', and Catherine devoted her attention to the improve- 
ment of the country and the promotion of its multifarious 
interests. Potempkin had reached the double honour of im- 
perial favourite and prime minister } and his sovereign found 
him a coadjutor, equally efficient in both capacities. To him 
was intrusted an immense share of power, and he was looked 
^up to, as the dispenser of all titles and favours of the court. 
Conscious of his vast influence, he grew wanton in' its enjoy- 
ment, and scarcely a day passed by, in which he did not ob- 
tain some new accession of dignity or revenue. 

Gregory Orlof, unable to endure the amazing success of his 
former rival, now desired permission to retire from the court. 
Catherine was too shrewd a politician to grant his request. 
Though she no longer entertained the slightest affection for him, 
yet she well knew the violence of his passions, and feared that 
he might, during his absence, become the centre of a dan- 
gerous conspiracy against her throne and her life. She or- 
dered him to remain. She continued him in the exercise of 
those offices about the court, which made his presence there 
necessary. She also thought, that while he remained near 
her person, he would act as a check upon the arrogance and 
vehemence of Potempkin. The spirit which the latter now 
exhibited, may be illustrated by the following incident : He 



.134 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

was once sent for to council, when engaged at a game of cards. 
He refused to go. The messenger humbly asking a reason 
for his non-compliance, was told he might find it in the Bible. 
The messenger inquired where. In the first psalm, said he, 
and the first verse : Beatus vir qui non abiit in con&ilio im- 
piorum ! 

But what singular changes will not a crafty ambition produce 
in the conduct and deportment of men? Potempkin, hereto- 
fore an arrogant courtier, and irreverent scofi"er, suddenly as- 
sumed an exterior of the most rigid piety. During Lent, he 
who had before put the remotest countries under contribu- 
tion to furnish the delicacies of his table, all at once lived 
upon the diet of a hermit, went every day to confession, and 
wearied the heavens with his prayers. He had chosen and 
bought over the same confessor who shrove the Empress, his 
mistress. The world was astounded at this sudden change ; 
as well they might be. The shrewdness of Catherine, how- 
ever, soon detected the cause. The conscience of Potempkin 
had suddenly waxed very tender. He was living in a state 
of sinful adultery. The vengeance of heaven hung over his 
head, and th^^lashings of his awakened conscience terrified his 
trembling soul. He must for ever relinquish a connexion, 
however dear and delightful to him, which had not the sanc- 
tion of marriage to approve it. 

At an interview and long conference which now took place 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 135 

between the loverS; Catherine demeaned herself with her 
usual resolution and dignity. She easily saw through the 
motives of Potempkin's religious scruples. She told him, 
that though she had a regard for him, which she would not 
disguise, yet she was sufficiently mistress of herself, not to be 
made the tool of any such intrigue as this, and that if he was 
disposed no longer to hold the post of favourite, she could 
easily place another, equally acceptable, in his place. 

Potempkin, surprised and humbled at the resolution of his 
mistress, goon forgot both his devotion and his resentment, 
in the pursuits of ambition and of pleasure. Reasons of state 
doubtless alone withheld Catherine from a marriage, which at 
that time, probably, might have . otherwise been agreeable to 
her feelings. 

She now proceeded to the more perfect organization of 
her empire, by dividing it into vice-royalties. Of these she 
formed forty-three ; thirty-eight of which were in Europe, and 
five in Asia. Each of these had a general goveri?or, with a 
government administration, and two counsellors. Subordinate 
to these, were a court of justice, a finance chamber, a county 
court, land surveyor, rent master, and other necessary function- 
aries. She published various ukases, adapted to the wants 
of different portions of her empire. One of these diffused 
joy and gladness to the inhabitants of Siberia, by which the 
commerce of that cheerless region was vastly promoted. She 



iai6 filSTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

established a bank at Tobolsk, in correspondence with the 
bank of St. Petersburg. She also advanced, by wise regula- 
tions, the general commerce of her empire. Her comprehen- 
sive mind gave proof that she was capable of the performance 
of the most difficult duties of the statesman and legislator. 
She renewed her treaty with England, and fostered the com- 
merce of her subjects with that vast maritime nation. She 
continued to invite the inimigration of foreigners, especially 
Germans, to those portions of her dominions which needed 
the accession of a more numerous population. By this wise 
policy, it must be admitted, that Catherine truly promoted the 
aggrandisement and greatness of her country. The wisdom, 
magnificence, and splendour of her actions, threw a lustre 
around her person and her reign, which dazzled the eyes of 
mankind, and secured for them deference and respect through- 
out the civilized world. 

She displayed the vigour and comprehensiveness of her 
mind, by the variety of the duties which she performed, and 
the multiform pursuits of which she was capable. Her time 
was carefully distributed. She had, by this means, sufficient 
leisure to confer with her ministers. She framed new laws, 
and amended the old ones. She wrote with her own hands, 
the orders which she sent to her generals and ambassadors. 
She maintained a regular correspondence with distinguished 
artists, and men of letters, throughout Europe. She gave 



HISTOEY OF CATHERINE II. 137 

audience at regular intervals to all her subjects, from the high- 
est to the humblest. She indulged in the amusements of her 
court and capital. And she reserved for herself, from all 
these avocations, leisure to attend to those gratifications which 
arose from her more tender connexions. 

At this period, in 1776, Potempkin ceased to possess her 
affections. He had been unconsciously supplanted by a hand- 
some Circassian, named Zavadoshy, who at that time was 
connected with a theatrical company in St. Petersburg. He 
had afterwards been employed by Marshal Romantzof, as his 
secretary and aid-de-camp. His elevation to the position of 
favourite, gave the Empress an opportunity to extend to Po- 
tempkin the usual, though unwelcome permission to travel. 
He acted, under these circumstances, with the eccentricity 
which so remarkably characterized him. On receiving the 
fatal order, he pretended to commence his journey ; but the 
very next day he returned with the utmost composure, and 
placed himself just opposite the Empress, as she was sitting 
down to a game of whist. Without evincing the least mark 
of her displeasure, Catherine, with admirable self-possession, 
ordered him to cut the cards, remarking that he was always 
lucky. The result of this cool adventure was, that Potempkin, 
though he could not be the lover, became the friend and 
minister of the Empress ; and was continued in all his oflElces 
and honours. Zavadosky could enact the lover j Potempkin 



138 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

could play the statesman and the minister. His powerful 
genius long retained its influence over Catherine; who could 
easily appreciate the superiority of his understanding, and 
turn it to her own advantage. The courtiers, accustomed as 
they were to observe the movements of the Empress, were 
unable to determine which of the two was the real favourite. 
They forgot that love, the tender passion, is silent in the 
presence of the sterner power of ambition. 

In 1776, the first wife of her son the Grand Duke died, 
leavmg no heir to inherit the empire : the matter of the suc- 
cession became one of too much importance to be neglected. 
Among the princesses of her acquaintance, none had pleased 
her so much as the Princess .of Wirtemberg. She was in- 
deed, already betrothed to the hereditary Prince of Hesse 
Darmstadt. But Frederic the Great, whose influence was de- 
cisive with the court of Wirtemberg, employed that influence 
to break off the existing match, and establish a connexion 
with the Grand Duke of Russia. Prince Henry of Prussia 
was at that time making his second visit to the court of St. 
Petersburg. The Grand Duke Peter accompanied him on his 
return to Prussia. Upon the arrival of the princes at Pots- 
dam, they were entertained by the Prussian monarch with 
the most magnificent feasts. On his departure from Berliuj 
Frederic presented him with a dessert service, a coffee service, 
ten vases of china, a ring with the King's portrait adorned 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 139 

witli a diamond valued at thirty thousand crowns, a set of 
Prussian horses, and four pieces of rich tapestry. 

It was not long after the return of the Grand Duke to St. 
Petersburg, that the Princess of Wirtemberg followed him. 
She embraced the Grreek religion, and was married to the 
G-rand Duke. Twenty years after their nuptials, at the death 
of his mother, November 17, 1796, this happy couple ascended 
together the imperial throne.* 

During the space of a year and a half, Zavadosky had now 
occupied the place of favourite. He had been unobtrusive, 
and had not interfered with the administrative functions of 
Potempkin. But suddenly his ambition was aroused, and he de- 
termined to turn out that minister. Informed of his intrigues, 
the latter, who possessed far greater abilities than his rival, re- 

^ They were the parents of a numerous offspring ; five princes, and 
four princesses, as follows : 

1. Alexander, born Dec. 12, 1777. 

2. Constantino, born April 27, 1779, 

3. Nicholas, born June 25, 1796. 

4. Michael, born Jan. ^, 1798. 

5. Alexander, born July 29, 1783. 

6. Helena, born Dec. 13, 1784. 

7. Maria, born February 4, 1786. 

8. Catherina, born May 10, 1788. 

9. Anna, born Jan. 7, 1795. 

The third in the above list is the present sovereign who sways the 
sceptre of all the Russias ; a man of acknowledged talent, and of great 
energy and resolution. 



140 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

solved to crush him. For this purpose he placed in Catherine's 
way a beautiful young Servian, named Zoritch, who at once 
captivated the admiration and affection of the changeable 
Empress. The next day Zavadosky was dismissed, and Zo- 
ritch was installed in his place. The retiring favourite was 
honoured on his departure with a present of ninety thousand 
rubles, and a considerable estate in land. The new favourite 
was without education and without ambition. He was content 
to administer, in obscurity, to the pleasures of the Empress, 
without aspiring to any higher or nobler function, for which 
his talents were wholly unfit.* 

The various and rapid changes which took place in Cathe- 

* Zoritch, on wliom tlie inconstant Catherine next cast her greedy 
eye, was the only foreigner whom she ventured to create favourite, 
during her reign. He was a Servian by birth ; who had been taken 
prisoner among the Turks, and had made his escape from Constanti- 
nople, where he was confined as a slave. He appeared at court for 
the first time, in the elegant dress of a hussar. His attractive beauty 
dazzled every eye, and the old ladies of Russia spoke of him for many 
years after as an Adonis. Protected at first by Potempkin, he wished 
at length to shake off his yoke ; quarrelled with him,, and challenged 
him to a duel. His mind, however, was not sufficiently cultivated to 
captivate or to influence that of Catherine ; who dismissed him at the 
end of twelve months, loaded with valuable favours. He obtained 
the town of Schklof, which was erected into a kind of sovereignty for 
him, — the only instance of the kind which occurred in Russia. Vide 
Secret Memoirs of the Court of St. Petersburg. London, 1801. Vol. I. 
p. 112. 



HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 141 

rine's succession of favourites, which we have traced from time 
to time, suggests to the mind a singular inquiry respecting the 
real nature of that remarkable attachment which she displayed, 
and which perhaps has no parallel in the history of sove- 
reigns and of women. The only instance somewhat analogous 
to hers, which occurs in history, is that of Cleopatra; and we 
would infer, from the respective histories of these two women, 
that their mental constitution and their physical tempera- 
ments must have been very similar. Catherine's passion was 
not, on the one hand, the pure, the constant, and the undying 
attachment of true love. Too many successful aspirants en- 
joyed the honour of her partiality, to allow for one moment, 
the truth of such a supposition. Neither was her passion that 
of the mercenary, and the volatile libertine, to whom the so- 
ciety of one lover is as acceptable as that of another. Her 
changes and caprices were not sufficiently frequent, to justify 
such an imputation. How then shall we designate her social 
feeling? We imagine, that her love was a purely gross 
and sensual emotion, produced by the external beauty, the 
extraordinary symmetry of form and gracefulness, of her fa- 
vourite; that her attachment continued undivided while these 
merits retained their virtue ; that there was but little romance, 
little sentiment, in the emotion which she experienced ; and 
that the lover lost his power to please, just as soon as the 



f 



142 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

novelty of his charms, and the energy of his devotion, had he- 
come exhausted. Y et she loved as hecame an Empress ; and 
she cherished for the time the object of her affection, as ardentlj 
as if she felt a purer and a nobler flame. 



CHAPTEK X. 

SPLENDOUR OP THE COURT OF ST. PETERSBURG AT THIS TIME. — ^VISIT 
OF THE CELEBRATED DUCHESS OF KINGSTON TO ST. PETERSBURG. — 
SHE DECLINES IN CATHERINE'S FAVOUR, AND RETIRES IN DISGUST 

TO ROME. — Catherine's literary productions. — zoritch be- 
comes. FAVOURITE. — he IS DISMISSED. — KORSAKOF SUCCEEDS HIM. 

HIS IGNORANCE AND VANITY. — HIS DISMISSAL. — LANSKOl BECOMES 
FAVOURITE. — JOURNEY TO MOHILEF. 

The court of St. Petersburg, at this period, was certainly one 
of great splendour and distinction. It was regarded with pro- 
found respect by all the rest of Europe. The magnificence of the 
empire over which it ruled, at once gave it grandeur and pre- 
eminence. That empire was equal, in superficial extent, to all 
the other kingdoms of Europe combined; extending from the 
Baltic to the Black Sea, and from the dominions of Maria 
Theresa far into the untrodden deserts of Tartary. Its capi- 
tal, planted on the marshy shores of the Neva, by the magic 
wand of the great Peter, had grown up into a stupendous mass 
of palaces, temples, and citadels, whose gilded spires of mingled 
Asiatic and European architecture, pierced those northern 
heavens, and glittered in the morning and evening sun. Under 
this dominion, were assembled nations of many distant climes 

(143) 



144 HISTORY OF CATHERINE IL 

and kindreds ; Cossacks of the Don, Calmucks, Poles, Circas- 
sians, Siberians, Tartars, Germans, and Russians ; while the de- 
crees of the Great Empress were received, and obeyed with reve- 
rence, by one-fourth of the inhabitants of the civilized globe. 

Her court itself could vie, in lavish splendour, in feminine 
beauty, in princely wealth, in illustrious names, in manly 
genius, and in its courtiers of high and noble birth, with the 
proudest among men. There," as a fit centre to so magnificent 
a throng, was the mighty Empress herself; — a woman of high 
and daring spirit, who had ventured boldly into the most des- 
perate and perilous vicissitudes of fortune. By the charms of 
her wit, and the brilliancy of her genius, she had proved her- 
self an equal, and a worthy associate of the most illustrious 
./personages of the age; of Frederic the Great, of Voltaire, 
of Euler, and of Diderot. By the comprehensive energy 
of her mind, she had won the palm in statesmanship, and 
stood among the first legislators of the times. She had uni- 
formly triumphed in the dangerous game of war; and even the 
ancient capital of the Roman empire in the East, the Queen of 
cities, the admiration of the whole world, herself had trembled 
on her hills, at the mighty name of the sovereign before whose 
invincible legions, the children of the Prophet had so often fled 
in battle. There, surrounding her, were men and women of 
illustrious name, talents, and character : — Gregory Orlof, re- 
markable for his immense stature and daring mind; who, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE IL 14|^ 

when in the prime of his vigorous manhood, had aided to crush 
the life out of the trembling frame of the expiring and imploring 
Peter ; who long had triumphed as the cherished lover of his 
grateful sovereign ; and who had astounded foreign countries by 
the reckless extravagance of his expenditure, while travelling 
to assuag^ the fierce fires of his soul, When he saw his place 
usurped %y a more graceful and fascinating lover. Now, his 
lofty head whitened with the frosts of age, he still presented a ^ 
bold and daring front, — a worthy representative of the rude 
and gigantic Grenius of the North ; with -v^hose checkered for- 
tunes, his history and his life had been so long and so closely 
identified. There was the beautiful, the accomplished, the 
romantic Princess Dashkoff; at first the intimate and bosom 
friend of the Empress, before she had ascended the throne; 
who had staked her life upon the throw, which was to win or 
lose a crown ; who in the hour of victory had shared the equal 
joy of her triumphant friend, and now, after various vicissi- 
tudes, and the full experience of the pleasures and sorrows of 
ambition, of love, and of friendship, was calmly reposing in the 
enjoyment of her fame, her recollections, and the afiection 
of her sovereign. Among that group were to be seen the aged 
Panin, grown gray in the service of his honoured mistress ; the 
chivalrous and daring Alexius Orlof, whose vigorous arm had 
destroyed the perilous conspiracy of Pugatschef ; the veteran 
Marshal Munich, who during the sixty-five years of his active 



A 



1-^ HISTORY OF CATHERINE H. 

life, had served more sovereignSj liad fought more battles, had 
won more victories, and had experienced more of the grandeur 
and the littleness, the changes and the vicissitudes of fortune, 
than all the generals then in Europe comhined. There was 
the renowned Romantzof, who had destroyed the boasted 
armies of the Sultan on many an ensanguined field, and caused 
the blood of the infidels to flow in torrents, on many a tri- 
umphant plain. There was Prince G-alitzin, the elegant courtier, 
and the accomplished statesman ; and lastly, though not least, 
the eccentric Potempkin, an enigma in human nature; pos- 
sessed of great talents and great foibles ; capable of wisely 
governing empires, incapable of governing himself; enjoying 
every gratification which lavished millions could bestow, and 
yet, unsatisfied and displeased ; able to overreach every other 
statesman and diplomatist in Europe, and yet himself deceived 
by his own valet de cliamhre. There were collected, by the 
munificence of the Empress, men distinguished in every 
science and every art ; poets, historians, philosophers, artists, 
soldiers, courtiers, and prelates; who, though some of their 
names have since descended to the shades of oblivion, in their 
own day stood high in contemporary distinction and renown. 

Many distinguished foreigners were then attracted by the 
splendour of the court of St. Petersburg, and honoured it with 
their presence. Among these, was the renowned Duchess of 
Kingston. In 1777 the waves of the Grulf of Finland wafted 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II, 147 

her magnificent yacht to the quays of the Neva This lady 

was celebrated for her great beauty, her wit, her luxury, her 

eccentricities, and her amorous adventures. She was attended 

by Garnosky, at that time her favourite. Her distinction in 

the world of fashion and of dissipation, made her visit to the 

Russian capital an event of considerable consequence. Her 

yacht had been damaged by a severe storm and inundation 

upon the coast, and the Empress had it repaired at her own 

expense. Accordingly, all its stores and sumptuous furniture 

were unladed, and lodged in the apartments of the Admiralty, 

and then, by the labour of some hundreds of people, and by 

means of levers and engines constructed for the purpose, the 

yacht was lifted on shore, and the repairs completed. 

After a short residence, however, the Duchess displayed too 

much the weaknesses of her character, to retain the respect of 

the Russian court. She did not maintain that dignity of 

behaviour, and that elegance of manners, which became a woman 

of her exalted rank. At times, she seemed by her lavish 

expenditure to rival the entertainments of the palace; at others 

she excited universal contempt by her meanness and servility. 

The consequences were unpleasant. The Empress withdrew 

her attentions. She sank into neglect and obscurity with the 

court : and the mortified Countess was constrained to depart 

from St. Petersburg, and sail for Italy, where her adventures 

became afterwards sufficiently notorious. 
G 



148 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Catherine did not neglect any means whereby the attachment 
of her subjects might be secured. In 1779 she established 
two honorary orders; that of St. George and St, Vladimir. 
The former is a military order, and divided into four classes. 
Its badges are a black ribbon with a George and a dragon. 
In 1790 this order was worn by about five hundred persons. 
A certain number of each class enjoy pensions of from one to 
seven hundred rubles. The order of St. Vladimir was insti- 
tuted in 1782, by the Empress, on her twentieth coronation 
day. Its chapter was held in the church of St. Sophia. The 
star is of eight points, of gold and silver, having a red area, 
bearing a cross, with a ribbon of two black and one red 
stripes. In 1790 the number of knights was seven hundred. 

Amid the perplexities of a thousand cares, Catherine found 
time even to woo the muses. It is well known that she was 
the author of comedies^ in which fanaticism and superstition 
were attacked with severity and ridicule. She displayed her 
X talents as an author in the " Instruction for the Code of Laws," 
which exhibits the masculine mind of a profound legislator, 
and which was composed by herself, and written in full, in 
her own hand. 

Evfen these multiplied cares and labours did not prevent 
her from indulging in the lighter fascinations of love and of 
adventure. She possessed all a woman's caprices. The Ser- 
vian Zoritoh had now enjoyed her affections for a twelvemonth, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 149 

during which time he had received very considerable presents. 
His mistress seemed perfectly satisfied with him. All at once, 
he received permission to enter on his travels. Astounded at 
this sudden reverse of fortune, Zoritch ran in dismay to Po- 
tempkin. The minister, pitying the misfortune of this harm- 
less favourite, was willing to exert himself in his behalf. lie 
repaired to the Empress, and inquired the reason of her sudden 
change of feeling. She answered : " I was fond of him 
yesterday : to-day I am not. Perhaps, if he were better edu- 
cated, I might love him still ; but his ignorance puts me to 
the blush. He can speak no other language than Kuss. 
Let him travel into France and England, and learn foreign 
languages." Zoritch, finding the Empress inexorable, yielded 
to necessity, and visited the various countries of Europe. He 
spent some time at Paris, and afterwards returning to Russia, 
he resided at a small town on the Dnieper, where he built a 
theatre, and lived at an enormous expense. He never re- 
turned to court. 

The same day that saw the dismissal of Zoritch, Potempkin 
set about finding a successor for him. But Catherine had 
already anticipated him. Groing that very evening to the pal- 
ace, he beheld a handsome youth behind the chair of Catherine, 
whom he instantly knew to be the favourite. His name was 
Korsakof, a sergeant in the imperial guards. This person 
possessed a handsome figure, and elegant manners ; but he was 



150 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II, 

as deficient in education and talent^ as was his predecessor. 
He was not adapted therefore to encroach upon the influence 
or authority of Potempkin. Immediately after his elevation, 
he thought that it was essential to his dignity, that he should 
possess a library. Accordingly he sent for the principal book- 
seller, of St. Petersburg, and told him his wishes. The mer- 
chant inquired what books he would be pleased to have ? The 
favourite answered : ^^ You understand that matter better than 
I; that is your business. Let there be large books at the 
bottom, and smaller and smaller up to the top. That is the 
way they stand in the Empress's library." The bookseller, 
understanding his interests in the case, went to his warehouse, 
unearthed a number of old German commentators on the 
Bible and jurisprudence, which had laid for many years in 
sheets, ever since he had taken them for a bad debt, from a 
bankrupt bookseller in Leipsic ; he had them elegantly bound, 
and placed them at high prices in the favourite's library. He 
shrewdly interspersed among them, a set of Voltaire, of Rous- 
seau, of Buffon, and other fashionable writers, at convenient 
distances, in conspicuous positions in the library, to be at hand, 
in case some of Korsakof 's more erudite friends should inquire 
for them. For the rest, their elegant exteriors were a suffi- 
cient substitute for their internal defects. The favourite was 
highly pleased at their learned appearance, and there ended 
bis acquaintance with them. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 151 

Prince Potempkin was at this period at the summit of his 
ministerial power and influence. The court, the army, the 
navy, all were subject to his authority. He appointed the 
ministers, the generals, the favourites. He also removed 
them at his pleasure. Hig outward manner was rude and un- 
couth in the extreme; hut he was in reality one of the most 
artful and crafty of men. He exerted a supreme control over 
the Empress; but he maintained that supremacy by seeming 
to live and labour only for her service and her aggrandise- 
ment. He treated the highest dignitaries of the empire with 
that rudeness which borders on contempt ; and yet he appeared 
to defy and despise their hostility. Marshal Romantzof alone, 
of all the courtiers, did not humble himself before the minis- 
ter. There was, consequently, a mortal enmity between the 
parties. The hatred of Potempkin extended even to the sister 
of Romantzof, the Countess Bruce, and the most intimate 
friend of Catherine. He determined, if possible, to destroy 
the influence of both. 

Korsakof, being at this time the imperial favourite, was 
often thrown into the society of the Countess Bruce. The 
benefits which his mistress heaped upon him, should at least 
have secured his gratitude, if they could not inspire him with 
love. He should at any rate have been faithful to her. Potemp- 
kin discovered that the Countess loved the favourite. But as 
yet, the constraint under which the latter lived was so great, 



152 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

that it had been impossible for her to obtain the gratification 
of her wishes. Potempkin assisted the lovers in overcoming 
. all the obstacles which stood in their way. He contrived 
the means of their secret interviews, and then enabled the 
Empress to discover, that she had been deceived by both 
friend and favourite. She immediately banished the former 
from her empire, and the latter to Moscow. If she was mu- 
nificent in her attachments, she was also terrible and inexorable 
in her vengeance. 

The next connexion which Catherine formed, was one of 
intenser and deeper feeling, than any which she had experi- 
enced for many years. The same day that Korsakof was dis- 
missed she fiixed her choice upon one of the chevalier guards, 
named Lanskoi, sprung from an ancient Polish family ; a youth 
of the most graceful figure, and remarkable beauty, which the 
imagination of man can conceive. His favourable appearance 
had at first recommended him to the notice of Catherine. But 
his only merits were not those of his person. His disposition was 
ascertained, upon a more intimate acquaintance, to be respect- 
ful, affectionate, and constant.* Of all the favourites whom 

* Lanskoi was not only handsome in person, graceful, and accom- 
plished : but an admirer of the arts, a friend to talent, amiable and 
beneficent. Every one seemed to take an interest in the Sovereign's 
predilection for him. Even Potempkin feared his influence, and from 
the circumstance of his dying with horrible pains in his bowels, it was 
pretended that Potempkin gave him poison, Catherine in vain lavished 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE XL 153 

Catherine successively admitted to her shameless embraces, 
this was the one whom most she loved, and who. approved him- 
self most worthy of her affection. Art has rescued his lovely 
features from the common oblivion, and their beauty and 
sweetness are so great, as easily to account for* the intensity of 
the passion with which he inspired his royal mistress. That 
very fierceness of passion itself, it appears, was afterward the 
fatal cause of his early and premature death. A fever carried 
him off, in the course of a year, produced as it was asserted, by 
bis too ardent devotion to the pleasures of the woman who 
adored him. 

Though at this period of her reign, Catherine's foreign and 
domestic relations were peaceful, yet she determined to resume 
her hostile intentions toward Turkey. She desired to enter 
into a closer alliance with Joseph II., the Emperor of Ger- 
many. To arrange the basis of their alliance, she requested 
him to meet her at Mohilef in Poland. During all her fre- 

upon him during Ms sickness the most tender cares. She received 
his latest breath. She shut herself up for several days, which she 
passed in the violence of grief. She accused heaven ; she would cease 
to reign ; she swore nev^r to love again. Like another queenly Arti- 
mesia, she erected over his beloved remains a superb mausoleum, in 
the garden of her palace. Her affection turned into rage against the 
unhappy physician who could not save him, and who was obliged to 
throw himself at his Sovereign's feet to implore pardon for the impo- 
tence of his art. Vide Secrtt Memoirs of the Court of St. Petersburg. 
London, l&m. Vol. I. p. \U. 



154 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

quent journeys, it is worthy of remark, that Catherine never 
intrusted the administration of affairs during her absence, to 
her son, the Grand Duke. Though hy birth the generalissimo 
of the Russian armies, he never commanded a regiment. 
Though nominally Grrand Admiral of the Baltic, he was never 
onoe permitted to visit the fleet at Cronstadt. This conduct on 
the part of the Empress might seem mysterious to us, did we 
not know how illy imperial heads reposed on their pillows of 
down, and how often apprehensions for their safety, and sus- 
picions of the fidelity of their best friends, haunted their 
restless spirits. During her absence in this instance, she 
intrusted the government of St. Petersburg, and the adminis- 
tration of her empire to Prince G-alitzin. 

When Catherine reached Mohilef, Joseph II. had preceded 
her. The pomp and splendour of the Russian Empress, con- 
trasted strangely with the simplicity and plainness observed by 
the Austrian monarch and his retinue. The latter had even 
travelled thither incognito under the pseudonym of Count Falk- 
enstein. His aversion to pomp and court etiquette was indeed 
remarkable. During his j ourney from Vienna to Mohilef a per- 
son always rode one station in advance of the imperial carriages, 
who announced their approach to the postmaster, ordering 
him to provide dinner or supper for the approaching company : 
as for himself, he would be content with a fowl, or a sausage, 
and a draught of common beer. After taking this refresh- 



* HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 155 

ment, he would set off for the next station. He then departed 
with the thanks of the postmaster for apprising him of the 
approach of the distinguished cavalcade. The reader need 
scarcely be informed of the fact, that this forerunner was no 
one else than the Emperor himself. 

After the conferences were over, he continued his journey 
to St. Petersburg. He there visited the port of Cronstadfc, 
and everything that was curious in the gorgeous capital of the 
Czars, — the arsenals, the dockyards, the manufactories of 
various kinds, the Academy of Sciences, the temples, and the 
monuments of art and genius. The result of the deliberations 
of the two sovereigns was, that they agreed to attack the 
Turks in concert ; to share the spoils between them ; to re- 
establish the ancient republics of Greece. Catherine consented 
to patronize the barter of Bavaria for the Austrian Nether- 
lands j at the same time engaging to support him against any 
opposition of the King of Prussia, and the other princes of 
the G-erman Empire. Joseph II. left St. Petersburg, asto- 
nished, as well he might be, at the strange mixture of barba- 
rism and refinement which characterized everything which was 
presented to his view ; nor could he conceive how a woman, 
who seemed capable of leading the world by her genius, could 
consent to be so absolutely governed by two of her own sub- 
jects ; the one as minister, the other as favourite. 



CHAPTER XL 

cathekine's measures to promote the advancement op litera- 
ture THROUGHOUT HER DOMINIONS. — THE CULTIVATION OF THE 
NATIONAL LANGUAGE. — THE STUDY OP FOREIGN LANGUAGES. — OF 
ANCIENT LITERATURE. — OP BELLES-LETTRES. — ^WRITINGS OF KNAISH- 
IN — OP DERSCHAVIN — OP KHERASKOP — OP VAN WISIN. — CATHE- 
RINE'S GREAT MERITS AS A PATRONESS OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. 

To any one who is interested in the progress of civilization, 
and of national development, few subjects could possess greater 
charms, than the state of the arts, of literature, and of 
sciences, throughout the empire which possessed so extraordi- 
nary a ruler as Catherine 11. Deceived by the general stigma 
which has long rested upon Kussia, as a nation of rude and un- 
cultivated barbarians, we may imagine that, under the reign 
of this Empress, they were devoid of all civilization, and were 
entire strangers to the arts and knowledge. The traces of a 
superior cultivation which appear in the works of Nestor, and 
the other historians of the earlier annals of Eussia, contradict 
this impression. The knowledge and use of letters, and the 
Sclavonian translation of the Bible made in the ninth century ', 
the schools which the Grand Duke Vladimir established at a 
later date ; his own fondness for the fine arts ; the poetical 

(156) 



HISTOBY OF CATHERINE II. X57 

paraphrape of the Psalms, which about that time began to be 
used in the Greek churches j the civil code which Yaroslaf 
gave to the Russians about A. D. 1019 ; the splendour of his 
court, which even foreigners have commemorated; these and 
other facts show, that even previous to the period of Peter the 
Great, the Russians had not been totally immersed in bar- 
barism. 

When Catherine II. ascended the throne, she diffused 
around her a renovated and powerful enthusiasm for national 
improvement and advancement. She outstripped all her neigh- 
bours and rivals, in the rapid progress which she achieved. 
She patronized men of letters of every branch and name. 
Accordingly we find, that during her reign, Russia produced 
more writers distinguished for talent and ability, than she had 
done at any previous period. 

The cultivation of the national language first occupied the 
Empress's attention, and secured her liberal patronage. She 
ordered school books to be composed and printed in that lan^ 
guage. She caused translations to be made in it, of some of the 
best foreign works in the various departments of literature. 
She employed learned men who, by their writings, reduced the 
Russ language to philosophical principles, and to established 
rules. The productions of good authors began to furnish abun- 
dant materials for its enrichment and improvement. Formerly, 
it had been necessary for Russian writers to coin many words 



158 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

from foreign languages. Since the era of Catherine II., the 
Russian language, in consequence of the improvements intro- 
duced into the literature of the country, through the writings 
of learned men, has become sufficiently enriched, so as not to 
render recourse to other languages necessary, for the expres- 
sion of the most delicate shades of meaning, which the concep- 
tion of the writer may require to employ. 

Catherine II. patronized the study of foreign languages with 
equal munificence. She maintained Yaerig in Mongolia, for 
the express purpose of becoming acquainted with their lan- 
guage and literature, and afterward imparting scientific instruc- 
tion to her subjects upon it. She supported Leontief in the 
same way, with the design of obtaining an acquaintance with 
the Chinese literature. This say a/i translated many works 
into Russ, from that language, of a philosophical, political, 
and historical character. Among these were the works of 
Confucius, and a description of the towns, revenues, and natural 
history of China. The value of this department of her labours 
will appear from the fact, that a portion of the vast dominions 
of the Empress verged upon the Chinese empire, and that a 
knowledge of the language and institutions of these neighbours, 
was of great importance to those of her subjects who were so 
situated. Nor can we fail to perceive, how comprehensive was 
that imperial mind, which could grasp within its mighty em- 
brace, the multiform interests of her innumerable subjects, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE IE 159 

whether they were inhabitants of Europe or Asia ; whether 
they dwelt upon the Baltic Sea, or under the shadows of the 
Oral Mountains. 

Ancient literature also received the benefit of her patronage. 
She caused translations to be made of the principal writers of 
antiquity. She expressed her approbation of works, which 
were written and published by her own subjects, in the Latin 
language, — at that time the dialect of the learned throughout 
Europe. She appropriated in the year 1768, the yearly sum 
of five thousand rubles, for Russian translations from the 
classics, and commissioned Counts Shuvaloff and Orlof, to dis- 
pose of the sum properly. Among the works which, by this 
means, were translated into the . Russian language, and thus 
incorporated into the Russian literature, were those of Plato, 
Hesiod's poems, Homer's Batrachomachia, and his Iliad, 
Lucian's Dialogues, Diodorus Siculus, and Theophrastus, 
among the Greeks; and Tacitus, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Ter- 
ence, Horace's Odes, Caesar, Cicero, Virgil, and Suetonius, 
among the Roman writers. 

Catherine was also a liberal patroness of the native muse ; 
a department which had been particularly barren previous to 
her reign. The only poets of any note^ anterior to her acces- 
sion to the throne, were Somonosof, and at his death, the muse 
seemed to have taken a last farewell of the bleak hills and 
barren plains of the Northern Scythia, and plumed her wings 



160 HISTORY OF CATHERINE IJ. 

for more congenial climes. Catherine discovered in the early 
productions of Sumarokof, the germs of exalted genius; and 
she determined to foster the rare treasure. He was particu- 
larly successful in the department of the drama. He left 
behind him, in his writings, however, chaste and elegant models 
of composition in every department of polite literature. He 
possessed a lively and cultivated fancy ; a refined taste, formed 
upon the study of the ancient and modern writers ; a style 
purely classical, with great richness of thought. He occupied 
an honourable niche in the temple of European literature. 
Catherine, besides many other testimonials of her favour, 
settled upon him a yearly income of two thousand rubles. 
He died in 1777, at Moscow, a knight of the order of St. Anne. 
Another subject of the liberal patronage of Catherine, was 
Knai'shin, who was worthy of the respect with which he in- 
spired her for his genius. In the dramatical works with 
which he has enriched that department, are found great beau- 
ties of composition, a light harmonious versification, and a 
profound knowledge of the riches and strength of the language. 
To the most famous productions of this class, must be added 
his tragedy of Dido, and his comedy of the Boaster. A great 
number of miscellaneous poems, he has also written; among 
which are some very well imagined epistles and satires, the 
translation of the Henriad in verse, and a variety of essays 
in pFose^ 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE |J. ^ 

On« of his successors in this department, and perhaps the 
most distinguished, was Derschavin, who was respectable as a 
statesman, a patriot, a philanthropist, as well as a poet. 
Propriety, elegance, and delicacy of expression, form his 
peculiar characteristics. The harmony of his diction, and the 
melody of his sweet and flowing numbers, are inimitable. 
He discovered the way to combine the most luxuriant imagi- 
nation, with the purest and most cultivated taste. A beautiful 
poem of his, called the Dream of Menza, has been translated 
into German by Kotzebue, the celebrated dramatic writer; 
and those who are competent to judge of the two productions, 
declare that the German is far inferior to the Russian. 

Another poet who flourished under the auspices of Catherine, 
was the chevalier Kheraskof. His heroic poems, the Rossiad, 
and the Battle of Tchesme, are the first productions of the 
nation, in the department of the pure ejaic. His attempts in 
that high range of poesy have been successful. But he has 
been equally triumphant in other kinds of composition. He 
has written tragedies and comedies, which still to this day, 
keep their honoured place on the Russian stage. He has also 
published odes, fables, eclogues, which are all highly esteeoied. 
His last performances were Numa Pompilius, an historical 
romance, in the manner of Telemachus, and Cadmtis and 
Harmonia, a poetic tale. 

The last literary favourite of Catherine, whom we shall 



162 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

mention, was Yan Wisin, whose name and family were of 
Dutch descent, but who had been Russian for several genera- 
tions. This great poet was the Moliere of the Russian theatre. 
In him were combined all the qualities of a great dramatic 
* writer. In his best pieces, such as the Brigadier and the ' 
Spoiled Child J an intense interest is kept up ; he lashes severely 
the prevailing prejudices and vices of his age and country ; 
and presents a powerful and instructive moral to the attention 
of his readers. He is also the author of some elegant trans- 
lations into Russ. 

It is not venturing too far, or too much to say, that if 
Catherine II. had been placed, by the vicissitudes of fortune, 
as Empress over a nation of gifted and talented men, such as 
fell to the lot of some other European sovereigns, she would 
have been the most splendid and munificent patroness of genius 
that ever lived ] and that she would have caused the richest 
productions of the human mind to have been elaborated, to in- 
struct, delight, and improve mankind. As it was, being placed 
over a community by no means remarkable for the genial gifts 
of nature, but rather deficient in intellectual resources, she 
deserves great praise for what she did accomplish, under such 
very unfavourable circumstances. 



CHAPTER Xir. 

DIPIOMATIC INTERCOURSE OF CATHERINE WITH FREDERIC THE GREAT. — 
DANTZIC. — WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND THE NETHERLANDS.-^PRO- 
JECT OF OPENING THE NAVIGATION OF THE SCHELDT; — ARGUMENTS 
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION. — BREAKING OUT OF HOSTILI- 
TIES. — INTERFERENCE OF OTHER EUROPEAN POWERS. — SETTLEMENT 
OF THE DISPUTE BY NEGOTIATION. 

Though Catherine was constantly adding to her vast do- 
minions, Tby large accessions in every quarter; thougli she 
turned all the vicissitudes of war, and all the pacific events of 
her reign to the aggrandisement of her territory, she yet 
seemed jealous of the prosperity of others, and of the growth 
of their power. She had long been uneasy at the resplendent 
fame of Frederic the Great of Prussia, and of that importance 
and influence which his great talents gave him in the afl"airs 
of Europe. Prom the first partition of Poland, Frederic had 
constantly been making encroachments on the privileges of the 
city of Dantzie, and had oppressed it to such a degree, that it 
was almost compelled to abandon its commerce, and even to 
throw itself into his arms, and annex itself to his dominions. 
Catherine was the more offended at the prospect of such a re- 
sult, inasmuch as she had herself entertained ambitious de- 



164 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

signs m regard to that important city, and had only been 
induced to abandon the project which she entertained, for the 
present, in consequence of the expressions which were uttered 
by the government of France to the Chancellor Voront^of. 
This statesman had long been engaged in an epistolary cor- 
respondence with Tercier, who was intrusted, in conjunction 
with the Count de Broglio, with the secret political corres- 
pondence of Louis XV. 

The magistrates of Dantzic were artfully invited by the 
minister Stackelberg, to implore the protection and the inter- 
position of Catherine. She immediately wrote to the King 
of Prussia, offering her mediation in the affair, which step had 
the effect of retarding for a time, the fate which afterward 
overwhelmed that city. 

Troubles of another sort now disturbed a different portion 
of Europe, to which the attention of the Empress was attracted. 
J'oseph II. of Austria had formed the design of opening the 
navigation of the Scheldt. To this measure the Dutch were 
resolutely opposed ; who used every means to engage Frederic 
to support, by force of arms, their privileges. " Catherine 
declared on this occasion, that she was determined to support 
and maintain the pretensions of her friend and ally, the 
Emperor, with whom in the preceding year, she had renewed 
her treaty of alliance. Upon this the Dutch, whose cannon 
had already insulted the Austrian flag, dreading an exclusion 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 165 

froria the ports of the Baltic, determined to negotiate rather 
than to fight. The subject attracted the public attention in 
every port of Europe ; and few instances have occurred, in 
which the opinions of men varied so much as they did in 
reference to the merits of the conflict in which these powerful 
sovereigns were then engaged. 

The grounds on which the Emperor supported his claims, 
were sufficiently plausible and specious. The former opulence, 
splendour, and wealth of Antwerp, depended on the opening 
of the navigation of the Scheldt. The decline of her pros- 
perity was, with certainty, to be ascribed to no other cause 
than the removal of her former privileges on that river. The 
closing of the navigation was represented as the result of the 
avarice and ambition of the inhabitants of Amsterdam, who 
thereby monopolized all the commerce which had before be- 
longed to Antwerp, and was thus rising to splendour upon her 
ruins. The Scheldt was represented as the most magnificent 
river in Europe ; that its beauty was unrivalled ; and that its 
appropriation to promote the ambitious ends of one single city, 
was an outrage on justice, on humanity, and the treaties and the 
rights of nations.— -Arguments equally potent were arrayed on 
the other side of the question. The States declared that it 
was absurd, in the present state of mankind, to refer to what 
were called the natural rights of men, in order to overthrow 
existing social compacts between them, and those political cove- 



166 HISTORY OF CATHERINE IT. 

nants between nations^ which are the foundations of all public 
and private property. What confusion would Europe present, it 
was urged, if all its governments were obliged to recur to original 
principles of right and wrong, and to the laws of nature ; and 
to relinquish the various acquisitions which they had made, 
by conquest and treaty, by force and fraud, through the revolu- 
tions of a long succession of ages ! It would be to loosen all 
the bands which unite mankind together ; to throw them back 
again into a state of savage nature ; and to render the world 
a mighty chaos of political and social disorder. -It was also 
urged that the decline of the copamerce of Antwerp might be 
ascribed to other causes beside her exclusion from the naviga- 
tion of the Scheldt. These causes were various, owing to the 
faults and vices of the inhabitants of that city; and because 
the advantages and merits of Amsterdam for commerce, were 
in themselves far superior to those of which Antwerp could 
boast ; that the latter city had suffered the calamities of war ; 
that she had groaned under the despotism, cruelty, and per- 
secution of the Spaniards, which compelled many of her most 
valuable and opulent citizens to remove their persons and their 
wealth by flight, to more congenial and tolerant climes. It 
was observed, as a curious circumstance in connexion with 
this subject, that Spain, the sovereign of Antwerp, had been 
no less interested than Holland, in the measure of shutting up 
the Scheldt; because, as the celebrated Grand Pensionary, De 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 167 

Witt, declared in his memoirs, the greatness and opulence of 
Antwerp were an eyesore, an object of jealousy, to their 
Spanish rulers, who governed only to destroy. 

The States were determined to resist the proposed attempt 
of the Emperor to open their rif er to free navigation^ thus 
exposing the whole interior of their country to foreign inva- 
sion and aggression, A certain amount of marine force, how- 
ever, was necessary to the a:ccomplishment of this purpose, 
which their enemy, the Emperor, did not possess. It was, 
however, rumoured, that as that sovereign and the Empress 
of Russia were now united by a treaty of alliance, whereby 
Joseph II. covenanted to support her in her aggressions upon 
Turkey, the Crimea, and the Euxine, so would she now assist 
him in his encroachments upon the privileges of the Dutch 
States ; and that inasmuch as Catherine ha,d no port in the 
Mediterranean, she wished to possess at least the use of the 
Scheldt for the transport of arms, and as a station for her navy. 

Two vessels of the Emperor were employed to make an 
experiment upon the conduct of the Dutch, with respect to 
the navigation of the Scheldt ; and to ascertain whether they 
■should persevere at all hazards, in the assertion of their rights ; 
or whether they would yield to fear and apprehension of the 
great power of their opponent. Every means was used, at 
Paris and at Brussels, to induce the Emperor to abandon this 
method of ascertaining the intientions and final disposition of 



108 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

the States. But all these efforts were vain. He determined 
to persevere, and confirmed the threat of Count Belgiojoso, 
by declaring, that he would consider the first insult offered to 
his flag, on this occasion, as a public and formal declaration 
of war, on the part of the republic. 

The equipment and preparations of these vessels were 
evidently such, as to attract the attention of all Europe 
to this singular transaction. One of them was to proceed 
down the Scheldt, from Antwerp to the sea. The other 
.vessel was to ascend from the sea, up the river, on its course 
from Ostend to Antwerp. The former of these vessels, in 
her passage downward, received a broadside from a Dutch 
cutter; and the vessel coming up from Ostend, was stopped 
in her attempt to pass from the sea ; although in the latter 
case, no shots were fired, nor blood shed. After these events, 
a final rupture was inevitable, although some time elapsed 
before active operations commenced, in consequence of the 
absence of the Emperor from Vienna, and the great distance 
of his troops. An army of sixty thousand men were pre- 
paring to march from the Austrian hereditary dominions. 
Great trains of artillery, and other apparatus of war, were now 
in motion. The chief hinderance of the Emperor, was the 
fact, that in. the passage of his troops, he was compelled to 
avoid passing through the territories of the King of Prussia. 
The Republic summoned her best efforts to prepare for the 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 169 

approaching storm, which portended to be one of great fury 
and destructiveness. 

Al this crisis, Catherine II. took an active part against the 
States. She placed a large number of troops at the command 
of her ally, the Emperor ; who were to aid him in destroying 
the liberties and the rights of the republic. Nevertheless, 
she presumed to act, or fo assume the position of a mediator. 
But her offer was rejected by the States, and she became 
then identified as the determined friend of their enemy, the 
Emperor. 

But the rest of Europe were not disposed to permit one 
nation thus to become the victim of the selfish coalition of 
other and more powerful nations. France and Prussia deter- 
mined to interpose. Prince Henry of Prussia now paid his 
long-promised visit to the court of Versailles. Sweden was 
added to the coalition j and even the Ottoman power was 
induced to shake off its habitual and deathlike lethargy ; to 
take an interest in European politics; and to repay the Em- 
peror and Empress, the long score of grievances and wrongs 
which they had inflicted on the Porte. 

The States of Holland, from the formidable power of their 
allies, began to be themselves formidable. Their situation and 
prospects were not near so desperate, as they seemed to be at 
the commencement of hostilities. They began to assume a 
tone and an attitude of defiance. An European war would 



170 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

inevitably be the result of the active prosecution of the con- 
flict which had been begun. Both parties began to see the 
piiopriety of negotiation, rather than the prosecution of the 
war, which would cost each of them a large amount and 
expenditure of blood and treasure. Negotiations for a settle- 
ment of the dispute between the Emperor and Holland, were 
commenced at Paris, in 1785, under the auspices of the French 
Prime Minister. Toward the latter end of June, Barons 
Wassenser and Leyden proceeded to the Hague, as deputies 
from the Bepublic, to the court of Vienna. The first pre- 
liminary to an accommodation, which the Emperor required, 
was an apology for the insult offered to his flag. He regarded 
this, as monarchs too often do, as of greater importance than 
the settlement of a treaty by which the commercial interests 
of his subjects would be promoted. The deputies of the 
Republic were instructed to offer an apology to the wounded 
pride of the Emperor, for that insult. After this essential 
preliminary had been settled, the representatives of the bellige- 
rent powers proceeded to the details of the negotiation. A 
treaty of peace was established between them, in which both 
parties made mutual concessions; and the horrors of a war, 
the apprehension of which had excited and interested all 
Europe, were happily avoided. Thus Catherine had leisure 
to devote her continued attention solely to the affairs of her 
own empire. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

BOBRINSKT, CATHERINE'S NATURAL SON. — HIS ABANDONED CHARACTEB. 

— THE COLOSSAL STATUE OF PETER THE GREAT AT ST. PETERSBURG. — 
HISTORY OF ITS ERECTION. — CATHERINE CONQUERS THE «-RIMEA. — 
HER TREATY WITH GUSTAVUS III. OF SWEDEN, — HER WAR WITH THE 
TURKS. — GREGORY ORLOF. — BEZROBODKO. — LANSKOI. — HIS SUDDEN 

DEATH. — Catherine's inconsolable grief. 

At the period of the Empress's first attachment to G-regory 
Orlof, she had borne him a son, whom she named Bobrinsky. 
He was born at such a distance, in point of time, after the 
death of her husband, that no doubt could exist as to his 
paternity. Catherine was much attached to tiiis son, and had 
sent him abroad, for the purpose of completing his education 
under the most favourable auspices. 

Had Bobrinsky possessed ordinary prudence, he might have 

arrived at the first dignities of the empire. But unhappily, 

during his residence at Leipsic and Lausanne, he had contracted 

bad habits, which rendered him a source of great apprehension 

and solicitude to his affectionate parent. All the efforts 

employed to improve him, in a moral, as well as an intellectual 

respect, seemed utterly useless. Catherine now wished to place 
H (171) 



172 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

him under the care of some person of suitable learning an-l 
prudence^ who would act as his constant guide and protector. 
To find such a one, Catherine applied to Count Betzkoi, Mar- 
shal of the court, who assured the Empress that his own son- 
in-law, Colonel Ribas, was the most suitable person for that 
ojB&ce. She confided in his representations, and Ribas had 
been appointed Bobrinsky's tutor and guardian. But time 
proved him to be utterly unfit for the office he had assumed. 
Himself dissipated, arrogant, and licentious, he had infused 
the same bad qualities into his pupil. 

Catherine was much distressed at the hopeless and abandoned 
morals of her son, whose excesses became now so great, that she 
herself was constantly exposed thereby to shame and disgrace. 
She at length determined to send him into a sort of exile at 
Bevel. At this place he remained for many years, and still 
resided there under her strict command, at the period of his 
mother's death. Shortly after the accession of the Grand 
Duke, under the title of Paul I., he sent for Bobrinsky to 
come to St. Petersburg. He there publicly acknowledged him 
as his brother, and restored to him the palace of Gregory 
Orlof, situated on the Moika, which had been the scene of the 
early attachment of the Empress and that favourite. Bob- 
rinsky afterwards contracted an advantageous marriage with a 
Livonian lady, and passed into a quiet obscurity, consonant 
with his talents and his character. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 173 

This Empress possessed strong domestic affections, and was 
deeply interested in the education and happiness of her grand- 
children. For them she wrote with her own hand, several 
small works, — the Sketch of Russian History, Tales of the 
Czarovitch Chlor, the Library of the Grand Dukes. These 
were all interesting sketches in political history, natural history, 
and such other branches of knowledge as were most attractive 
and instructive to children. They were afterward collected 
together, under the title of Bihliotheque des Grand-dues 
Alexandre et Gonstantin. By the dignity and affectionateness 
of her manner, she inspired her descendants with great defer- 
ence and respect. She conversed familiarly with their tutor 
in their presence, and frequently gave him directions as to 
the performance of his duty. The subject of instruction one 
morning had been the form of government in Switzerland, on 
which the tutor, M. La Harpe, discoursed in accordance with 
his republican opinions. On returning to their studies the next 
day, the princes read at the bottom of the exercise, in the 
handwriting of the Empress, as follows : M. La Harpe, con- 
tinuez vos legons de cette sortej vos sentimens me plaisent 
beaucoup. 

The year 1782 was made memorable by the inauguration of 
the famous colossal statue of Peter I., a work in which the muni- 
ficence of Catherine was so ably supported by the mechanical 
genius of Stephen Falconet. She had resolved to erect a splendid 



174 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

statue to the memory of that great Prince, and wrote to Paris 
to Falconet, to come and execute the monument. She then 
conceived the idea of having for a pedestal of the statue, a 
colossal rock, of rude and rugged form. This symbol was to 
indicate to posterity, whence the heroic legislator had set out 
in his career, and what stupendous obstacles he had overcome. 
This sublime idea met with universal approbation. The next 
step was to find the mass of material suitable to the purpose, 
and consonant with the design. In a soil like that of Northern 
Russia, it was no easy task to obtain such materials. 

Accident favoured the accomplishment of an enterprise, 
which might otherwise never have been consummated. Near the 
village of Lachta, in a morass on the shores of the Gulf of Fin- 
land, a peasant discovered an immense rock, as remarkable for its 
shape as its size. On its being measured by the artist, it was 
found to be twenty-one feet thick, by forty-two in length, and 
thirty-four in breadth. The very idea of moving so immense 
a mass, was calculated at first to deter the boldest resolution. 
But the genius of Catherine was not accustomed to yield to 
obstacles, however vast or stupendous. Her whole reign had 
been a series of triumphs over difficulties greater than this. 
She therefore determined to remove that rock, from its imme- 
morial bed in the marshes of the Gulf of Finland, to the centre 
of St. Petersburg. 

To accomplish this, it was necessary first to remove the ground 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 175 

around its foundations. The workmen immediately discovered 
a propitious omen at the outset of their labours. The rock 
which reared its lofty head above the surface of the morasSj 
was not the summit of a mount^ whose base descended deeply 
into the bowels of the earth. It was a detached and separate 
mass of stone ; which rested upon the surface of the ground, 
wholly isolated and disconnected from any other substance. 
It was' also discovered, that throughout that whole coast and 
region, for many miles around, not another stone, either large 
or small, was anywhere to be found. The interior of the 
rock was also remarkable. A stroke of lightning had riven 
it on one side. On knocking off the shattered fragment, in- 
stead of a homogeneous mass, a collection of all sorts of valu- 
able stones appeared; crystals, agates, topazes, cornelians, 
amethysts, presented to the astonished observers a sight not 
more surprising than magnificent. Thousands of these were 
afterward cut and polished into bracelets, rings, snuff-boxes, 
and heads of canes, which found a rapid sale, not only among 
people of fashion, but throughout the whole empire. 

Five months were employed by the workmen in raising the 
mass above the ground, and placing it on grooves filled with 
cannon balls, to be dragged by windlasses toward St. Peters- 
burg. The stupendous mechanism intended for the conveyance 
of this rock, was invented by Count Carburg. A solid road 
was first made from the stone to the shore. Brass slips were 



176 HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 

then inserted under the stone, to run upon cannon balls, in 
metal grooves. The windlasses were worked by four hundred 
men. Each day they removed it two hundred fathoms 
toward the shore. On its passage toward its destination, 
the rock must pass over heights, cross morasses, be conveyed 
over rivers, travel down the Neva, being placed upon the water- 
transport, be disembarked again, and be drawn by land to the 
place of its destination. The weight of this enormous mass 
was three millions two hundred thousand pounds. The 
largest obelisk known, that which the son of Constantino the 
Great had conveyed from Alexandria to Rome, weighs only 
nine hundred and seven thousand pounds. This is but one- 
third of the weight of the rock of St. Petersburg. The his- 
tory of the mechanical arts knows nothing of any enterprise 
of this sort, so stupendous as that achieved by the resolute 
genius of Catherine. 

The equestrian statue of Peter the Great, which surmounts 
'\ the rock, is itself a masterpiece. The resemblance of the 
features is said to be excellent. The artist Falconet represents 
the Russian hero on horseback, in the act of ascending the 
st^ep rock, which he proposes to surmount. Peter is crowned 
with laurels, and wears an Asiatic dress. He extends his right 
arm with great dignity, while with the left he holds the reins of 
his charger, whose beauty of form, and boldness of attitude, 
secure the admiration of every beholder. The steed stands 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 177 

only on his hinder feet ; while his fore legs are thrown out 
fearlessly above the summit of the rock. A brazen serpent, 
which he tramples and crushes beneath him, while it serves 
to give strength and solidity to the whole group, at the same 
time symbolizes the destruction of every opponent to the 
triumphant fortunes and genius of the great hero. The stone 
is grounded on piles driven into the earth in the great square 
of the capital. It bears the appropriate inscription : Petro 
Primo Catharina Secunda. The monument was uncased 
and disclosed to the public on the 7th of August, 1782. The 
event was solemnized by the happy Empress by the distribu- 
tion of gold and silver m'edals, and by a ukase which discharged 
all prisoners for debt, and conferred various privileges on her 
subjects. The artist Falconet had spent nine years upon the 
work. The whole expense was estimated at four hundred and 
twenty-four thousand and six hundred rubles. 

In 1783, after various hostile demonstrations between the 
Russian armies, and the inhabitants of the Crimea, Catherine 
proclaimed a decree, in which that country was for ever an- 
nexed to her dominions. The Crim-Tartars have ever since 
been subjected to the Russian throne. The ambitious Empress 
now resolved to declare war again against the Ottoman power. 
But she was fearful that while her armies were engaged at 
the southern extremity of her empire, she might be harassed 
by Gustavus III., the sovereign of Sweden. To avert this 



178 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

danger, and to establisla a treaty of alliance with hini; she "pro- 
posed a private interview, which took place at Eredericksham, 
a small strongly fortified town on the Gulf of Finland, and 
the last extremity of her empire in the direction of Sweden. 
She repaired thither in a yacht. She was attended, among 
others, hy her favourite Lanskoi, and the Princess Dashkof. 
The Swedish monarch was also accompanied by a numerous 
and splendid suite. 

With he*r usual forethought, Catherine had ordered two 
contiguous houses to be engaged, which were furnished with 
great elegance, and between which a gallery of communication 
had been constructed. One of these houses was occupied by her- 
self; the other by the King of Sweden ; so that during the four 
days that the sovereigns remained at Fredericksham, they freely 
discoursed together, as often as they had occasion. The 
Empress engaged a Danish painter to execute a picture, in 
which she and Gustavus III. are represented as sitting and 
conversing together, which, with her accustomed liberality, she 
presented to the Swedish sovereign. The parties signed an 
agreement of peace between them ; each party being respect- 
ively bound to remain neutral toward any power, against which 
the other might choose to declare war. She also promised 
to assist him in his designs to gain possession of the throne of 
Norway. Before the sovereigns and their suites left Fredericks- 
ham, they gave magnificent presents to their attendants. Gus- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 170 

tavus decorated the favourite Lanskoi with the order of thfe 
Polar Star; and on his return to Sweden he sent to the 
Princess Dashkof a diploma of the Academy of Stockholm. 

Catherine had made vast military preparations for her ap- 
proaching conflict with the Porte ; yet the Divan determined, 
if possible, to evade her onslaught, by trying even the last re- 
sources of negotiation and treaty. By a new treaty, there- 
fore, signed at Constantinople, the Sultan acknowledged Cathe- 
rine's sovereignty over the Crimea, the isle of Taman, her 
right to the dominion of the Euxine ; and to the free passage 
of the Dardanelles. She thus acquired, by her able diplomacy, 
and without the sacrifice of either blood or treasure, an im- 
mense territory, with a million and a half of subjects. She 
restored to the Crimea and the Kuban their ancient classic 
names. The former of these she called Taurida, and the 
latter the Caucasus ; the memorable locale of those beautiful 
and immortal productions of the Grrecian muse, the " Iphigenia 
in Tauris," and the " Prometheus Bound.^' 

Meanwhile the fortunes of Potempkin advanced with those 
of his mistress, with whom his influence in the administration 
of her empire was now unlimited. He was constantly adding 
additional palaces and estates to his already vast wealth. The 
Empress honoured him with the surname of the Taurian, in- 
asmuch as, by his diplomacy, that country had been added to 
her dominions. She conferred upon him the dignity of Grand 



180 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Admiral of the Euxine, and built for him a magnificent palace 
in St. Petersburg, called the Taurian Palace, of prodigious size 
and splendour. 

In 1784, she was called upon to mourn the death of two 
of her oldest friends, and the most able supporters of her 
throne. One of these was Count Panin, the chief of the con- 
spiracy which had placed her on the throne. He died of the 
grief and mortification, which had harassed him from the mo- 
ment in which Potempkin had successfully resisted his influence 
in the council, and had deprived him of the supreme manage- 
ment of afiTairs. He had become it length a stranger to all peace 
of mind, except that which is found in the long silence and re- 
pose of the tomb. The other friend of the Empress who about 
the same time passed from the world, was Gregory Orlof, her 
first and most aspiring favourite. He too, at length, fell a victim 
to the pangs of mortified ambition and despised love. He had 
remained in possession of all his dignities and wealth, and had 
married a young and beautiful wife. But his wretchedness 
was so great, that he passed nearly all the latter years of his 
life in travelling. In 1782 he stopped at Lausanne, where 
he lost his wife, to whom he was much attached. This 
event increased his melancholy. He returned to court, but 
it was only to convince his friends, that his jnce vigorous 
mind had sunk beneath the weight of its gloom, and was 
but the sad wreck of what it once had been. At one mo- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 181 

ment he would indulge in an extravagant gayety — the next 
he would break out with the most terrific violence, filling 
every one with horror, and plunging the Empress herself into 
the deepest grief. He retired to Moscow. There, it is said, 
that the bleeding shade of Peter III, pursued him everywhere, 
affrighting his mind by day, haunting him in the troubled 
visions of the night, ever aiming at him an avenging dart. 
He expired in horrid agonies of remorse and despair. 

History teems with innumerable proofs of the unbounded 
selfishness and treachery of courtiers. How bitter must have 
been the reflections of Catherine, when she discovered that 
there were men in her court, base enough to excite, if possi- 
ble, even her own son and heir apparent, the Grand Duke, to 
rebellion against her ! This event occurred under the following 
circumstances. 

His Imperial Highness usually spent the autumn at G-ats- 
china, a country seat distant eighteen versts from the capital. 
All at once a report was mysteriously spread abroad that he 
was about to build a town there, aud would give liberty to alt 
who would come and live in it. The consequence Was, that 
peasants in multitudes came hastening from various portions of 
the empire to partake of these benefits. The prince at once 
detected the object of this singular movement, and had' the 
prudence and good sense to crush it. He kindly dismissed 
the disaffected, thereby destroying an incipient revolt^ from 



182 HISTOEY OF CATHERINE II. 

which^ no doubt, great benefits were expected by its nnprinci- 
pled instigators. 

Bezborodko had succeeded Panin in his important offices, 
and had secured the confidence of Catherine by the faithfulness 
with which he had discharged his duties. Connected with the 
family of Vorontzof, one of whom was the Princess Dashkof, 
and the other the former mistress of Peter III., he was the 
secret and determined enemy of Potempkin. They had not 
yet however come to an open rupture. 

Lanskoi, ^the present favourite, became each dfcy more dear 
to his royal mistress. His education bad been much neglected, 
and Catherine took delight in cultivating his mind, and impart- 
ing to him the accomplishments of learning. He soon became 
as remarkable for the elegance of his manners, and the excel- 
lence of his knowledge, as he already was for the beauty of 
his person, and the sweetness of his disposition. Her love 
for this youth was ardent and sincere. She admired in him 
the fair creation of her own afi'ection and intelligence. The 
delight which she took in his society, was unhappily destined 
to be of short continuance. 

He was attacked with a violent fever, resulting from a cause 
already stated in a previous part of this work, which carried 
him ofi" in the flower of his age. He expired in the arms of 
her Majesty, who lavished upon him, until the last moment, all 
the tenderness which the most passionate and devoted love 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 183 

could inspire. As soon as she had closed his eyes, she aban- 
doned herself fo the deepest sorrow. The imperial apartments 
were no longer the scene of joy and pleasure, as they once had 
been. They now resembled a cheerless and lonely desert. 
Catherine for several days refused all sustenance, and remained 
for three months confined to her palace. Immediately after 
his death, she threw herself upon his bed, and seemed indif- 
ferent to life or death. The Grand Duke and Duchess, hear- 
ing of her desperate grief, drove immediately to her palace, 
and desired admission to her apartment. She refused to admit 
them to her presence, and they returned without seeing her. 
She afterward erected, as already stated, a beautiful mausoleum 
to his memory, in the gardens of the imperial palace, which 
was visible through the trees, from the windows of her private 
apartment. More than two years after his death, accidentally 
walking near this monument with some ladies of her court, 
they observed her immediately to shed an abundance of tears. 
The fortune of Lanskoi, in consequence of the liberal afiection 
of his mistress, was estimated at seven millions of rubles 
All this treasure he bequeathed again, to her from whom it 
had emanated. She refused to receive it, and presented it 
to the sisters of the man whom she had loved so fondly and 
so well. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

seceet mabriage of catherine to potempkin. — yeemolof becomes 
favourite. — his ingratitude to catherine. — yermolof dis- 
missed. — momonof becomes favourite. — catherine purchases 
Voltaire's library. — her celebrated journey to the Crimea. — 
the prince de ligne. — war between russia and turkjsy. — war 
with sweden. — catherine victorious against both. 

After the death of Lanskoi, the affections of the woman for 
some time overpowered the energies of the sovereign, in the 
Empress, and she seemed to find no amelioration of her grief. 
Potempkin was the only person who had free access to her 
person.* His influence with her increased from day to day, 

* The character of this remarkable man has been transmitted to pos- 
terity in the following elaborate, and perhaps not overdrawn descrip- 
tion, by one of the most eminent men of his age, the Prince de Ligne. 
Though lengthy, it is worthy of being preserved entire. Says the 
Prince : 

"I beheld a commander, who, with the appearance of extreme 
indolence, is eternally occupied ; who has no writing desk but his 
knees, no comb but his fingers ; who passes his life on a couch, yet 
never closes his eyes, through the anxiety of his zeal for his mistress 
whom he adores, and through fear that every cannon shot of which 
he does not see the direction, may cost the life of some of his soldiers. 
Trembling for others but fearless for himself ; anxious and alarmed 

(184) 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 185 

and so complete was the supremacy which he had secured over 
her mind, that from gratitude and real affection, she resolved 
to bind him to her by indissoluble ties, and secretly gave him 

at the approach of danger, but meeting it with gayety, he is most 
cheerful and decided when giving his orders under the fire of a battery. 
He is melancholy in the midst of pleasure ; unhappy from excess of 
good fortune ; satiated with everything ; easily offended, morose, and 
inconstant, but ready to ask pardon for the uneasiness he may occa- 
sion, and to repair the injustice he has committed. He thinks him- 
self sincerely pious, and is, in truth, very much afraid of the devil, 
whom he represents to himself as even bigger and more powerful 
than a Prince Potempkin, and alternately embraces a crucifix or a 
mistress. Prodigal in squandering the wealth which is profusely 
showered on him by the Empress ; more willing to bestow than to 
pay ; ever creating palaces and gardens, and abandoning them when 
finished; giving way to every impulse; adopting every prejudice, 
and rejecting it with the same facility ; talking divinity to generals, 
and tactics to archbishops; never opening a book, but reading the 
thoughts of all who approach him, and eliciting their opinions by 
contradictions ; with an air and manners the most morose and repul- 
sive, or the most conciliating and agreeable, he sometimes appears 
like the proudest representative of an Asiatic despot, and sometimes 
as the most fascinating courtier of Louis XIV. With a harsh and 
forbidding exterior, he has a tender and affectionate heart. Fantastic 
about his house, his meals, Snd his rest ; capricious in all his tastes ; 
wishing for everything like a child ; bearing the severest privations 
like a great man ; sober, with the appearance of gluttony ; biting his, 
nails, or gnawing an apple or a turnip ; scolding or laughing ; mimick- 
ing or swearing ; he calls around him twenty aides-de-camp at a tim6, 
and dismisses them with or without some unimportant message. At 
one moment appearing to tremble at every breeze, he will, at the next, 



186 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

her hand. The marriage was never publicly promulgated. 
The union of interest and of affection between these two extra- 
ordinary lovers, doubtless continued unimpaired for some time ; 
but the bonds of wedlock were unable perinanently to restrain 
either of them. They mutually wearied of each other's society, 
and looked around for newer and stronger attachments. 

The Princess Dashkof now conceived the ambitious purpose 
of raising her son to the office of imperial favourite ; and for 

brave the extremes of heat and cold, without drawers, in his shirt, 
over which is buttoned a full uniform with all its embroidery, his 
naked feet thrust into a pair of black slippers covered with spangles. 
Thus accoutred, without a hat or cap, I have seen him more than 
once in the midst of the enemy's fire ; at other times, in a wretched 
night-gown, and occasionally in a superb tunic, with his three stars 
and ribands, and the portrait of the Empress set round with the most 
costly diamonds, whose splendour was well calculated to attract a 
shower of bullets. At home, his air slovenly, careless, and crouch- 
ing; at the head of the troops he is erect, colossal, majestic, like 
Agamemnon towering above the Kings of Greece, What, then, was 
his magic ? Genius, native genius ; a strong understanding, an excel- 
lent memory; that acuteness which detects artifices without the 
cunning which practises them ; a character, capricious yet seductive ; 
elevation of soul, abundant generosity, with much grace and discrimi- 
nation in dispensing favours ; the talent of guessing what he does not 
know, and an intuitive knowledge of the characters of men," Vide 
Vol. II. p. 40, of Iiettres et Pensees-du Marechal Prince de Ligne, puh- 
lieespar Madame la Baronne de Sta'el HoUtein: contenant des Anecdotes 
inedites sur Joseph II., Catherine II., Frederic le Grand, Rousseau, Vol- 
taire, ^c, ^c, et des Remarques inter essantes sur les Turcs. 2 tom. 
12mo. Londres, Dulau. 1808, 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 187 

a moment slie seemed about to be successful in her intrigues. 
The young Prince Dashkof was tall", graceful, and well formed ; 
calculated to produce a favourable impression on the suscepti- 
ble mind of the Empress. He was also highly educated, 
having pursued his studies at Edinburgh, under the guidance 
of Professors Robinson, Stewart, and Millar. But he was 
self-important, and displayed an unpleasing consciousness of 
his own merits. He had the misfortune to offend Potemp- 
kin, and his fate was sealed. That minister immediately sent 
successively, two subaltern officers of the guards to Catherine, 
with some trifling commission. These were named Yermolof 
and Momonof. She had a fair opportunity of observing both, 
and she decided in favour of the former. A ball was given 
at court next day. Young Dashkof was present, and displayed 
great magnificence. The courtiers imagined his triumph was 
at hand, and already paid him those marks of deference which 
are so readily accorded to those who may be the favourites of 
Kings and Empresses. Even Potempkin appeared to lavish 
his condescension upon him. The Princess Dashkof herself 
was delighted to see the deference of the powerful minister, 
and wrote to him, desiring him to admit her nephew, the young 
Count Butterlin, into the number of his aides-de-camp. Po- 
tempkin maliciously replied, that the last vacancy had just 
been given to Yermolof. The sanje day, to her great mortifi- 



188 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

cation and that of her son^ they beheld that favourite, for 
the first time standing behind the Empress's chair, at the 
palace. 

Catherine, employed as she was, with the cares of state, and 
with the blandishments of pleasure, did not forget the religious 
interests of her subjects. She tolerated and protected all 
religions. She commanded clergymen of all denominations 
to live in harmony throughout her dominions. Among her 
subjects were persons of every religious persuasion. Arme- 
nians, Lutherans, Reformed, Catholics, Moravians, the Greek 
established church, and the English Episcopalians. Foreigners 
of all sects of religion contracted marriages with the Greek 
Christians, and with each other, without annoyance from their 
religious relations. The Empress had favoured her Catholic 
subjects by appointing an Archbishop, and establishing a 
seminary of Jesuits at Mohilef. She also in the same way 
protected her Mahommedan subjects in the Crimea, in the 
practice of their religion. By her express orders, her con- 
fessor gave a grand entertainment once a year, at his house, 
to all the ecclesiastics of every persuasion at St. Petersburg. 
This event usually occurred on the sixth of January, and 
there were fifteen or sixteen denominations, all in their several 
ecclesiastical dresses, duly represented. The metropolitan 
Archbishop of St. Petersburg always presided on these occa- 
sions. The general conversation was usually carried on in the 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 189 

Latin language. The whole expense of these fraternal enter- 
tainments was defrayed by the Empress. During her reign the 
offices of religion were performed in her capital, in fourteen 
different languages. 

The year 1785, which saw the sudden elevation of Yermo- 
lof to the position of favourite, also witnessed his fall. This 
event was the result of his own absurd imprudence. In 
person he was tall, exceedingly fair in his complexion, rather 
heavy and apathetic in his figure. He was also jealous to the 
last degree. He soon behaved ungratefully to Potempkin, to 
whom he owed his good fortune, and embraced every oppor- 
tunity to injure him. The Empress, at first influenced by 
Yermolof, showed some coldness to her minister. The fa- 
vourite, however, little knew the mighty power of the man 
whom he outraged and braved. The latter determined on his 
ruin. In an interview with Catherine, Potempkin declared 
himself hurt at her sudden coldness, and haughtily said to 
her ; ^' Madam, there is but one alternative ; you must either 
dismiss this white negro (so nicknamed from his fair com- 
plexion, which scarcely seemed natural), or I shall not again 
enter the palace." The sanie day Termolof received orders 
to enter on his travels, and Momonof was promoted to his 
place. 

Voltaire had not long been dead, when Catherine com- 
missioned her agent at Paris to purchase his library for her. 



190 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Madame Denis, to wlaoni it bad been bequeathed, declared 
that she would not sell it ; but that she would willingly present 
it to the Empress. Upon this her majesty wrote to her in 
grateful terms, thanking her with great dignity and felicity 
of expression, for the ohligation conferred. She also pre- 
sented to her, through her correspondent, M. Grimm, gifts 
which exceeded in value the worth of the library. She also 
purchased the library of D'Alembert, with the treasures of 
which she enriched her own collection. 

In 1787 Catherine accomplished her celebrated journey or 
progress to the Crimea. The object of this tour was to take 
possession in form of the crown of that country, which had 
been subjugated by her victorious arms ; to overawe the sur- 
rounding nations by the splendour of her retinue ; and even 
to conduct her grandson Constantino to the capital of the 
Ottoman Empire, upon whose throne she determined to place 
him. The sudden sickness of the Prince, however, prevented 
the accomplishment of that part of the plan which referred to 
himself. The Empress however, held a conference with the 
King of Poland, during her journey, which was important in 
its consequences. She also inspired her new subjects with 
respect and admiration for the mighty sovereign under whose 
control the fortunes of war had placed them. The vastness 
of her original design was very much diminished in conse- 
quence of the absence of the Grand Duke Constantino. The 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 191 

opinion generally prevailed among tlie statesmen of Europe, 
that Catherine had resolved upon the expulsion of the Turks 
from Europe ; and all her policy for many years, in reference 
to the Ottoman power, tended to confirm that supposition. 
She set out accompanied Tby her ladies of honour, her favourite 
Momonof, some of her courtiers, and by the ministers of 
France and Austria. The sledges travelled night and day. 
Large fires were lighted along the road, and immense multi- 
tudes assembled to witness the royal cortege. 

On the sixth day of her journey, the Empress arrived at 
Smolensk. Fifteen days after, she made her entry into. Kief, 
where the Polish nobility who were favourable to the Russian 
interests, were assembled to meet her. Potempkin, Romant- 
zof, and other distinguished ornaments of her court, were also 
present at Kief. On the sixth of May, the conference took 
place between the Empress, and her former favourite, the 
King of Poland, on whom she had bestowed the crown, and 
who had once been the object of her youthful affections. The 
meeting between the now aged monarchs, was full of interest. 
Three-and-twenty years had transpired since last they met, 
and many had been the changes and vicissitudes of fortune 
which they had experienced in the interval. Their royal heads 
had not always reposed in peace upon their downy pillows. 
It is said, that their first interview, in th^ presence of their 
respective suites, was cold and formal. Time had made sad 



192 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

havoc with the youthful ardour and attachment of each. But 
afterward, at a private interview which took place between the 
sovereigns, Catherine became somewhat affected at the tender 
reminiscences which the Polish King recalled to her recollec- 
tion. Catherine, ever liberal and gracious, decorated him with 
the ribbon of the order of St. Andrew. They also dined 
together. On getting up from the table, Stanislaus took the 
fan and gloves of the Empress from the hands of the page 
who held them, and presented them to her majesty. Catherine 
immediately took the King's hat, which was held by his page, 
and moved it towards him. "Ah, madam," said he, "you 
have formerly given me a much richer one." He alluded to 
the magnificent present of the crown which he wore, and which 
he owed to her generous affection. 

Prince Potempkin for the first time saw the Polish monarch 
on this occasion. The interview is said to have been highly 
agreeable to both parties. It was to the favourable impression 
which Stanislaus Augustus then made on the minister of 
Catherine, that he was indebted for the preservation of his 
crown for some years longer. 

During this conference, the Empress also for the first time 
saw General Suwarrof, who afterward became so celebrated in 
the annals of Kussian warfare. While every one was asking 
some favour from the generous Empress, he alone asked no- 
thing. She said to him, "And you. General, do you want 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 198 

nothing?'^ He replied : "I ask from your majesty but three 
rubles to pay for my lodgings.'^ This sanguinary warrior^ 
never began a battle, without first repeatedly making the sign j 
of the cross. 

The passage of the Empress down the Dnieper was a con- 
tinual triumph.* Villages were constructed along the shores, 
filled with peasants handsomely dressed. The passage of the 
fleet was proclaimed everywhere, by the acclamations of her 
numerous subjects. Joseph II., the Emperor of Austria, met 
her at Kherson. Here Catherine lodged at the Admiralty, 
where a throne had been erected for her use, which cost 
fourteen thousand rubles. This is a large and opulent city, 
with a splendid and capacious harbour. As her majesty was 
traversing the several portions of the city, she read with 
pleasure on the eastern gate, a Grreek inscription in these 
significant words : This is the road to Constantinople ! The 

* The Prince de Ligne, who accompanied Catherine on this tour, 
in quality of French Minister, gives some interesting details respect- 
ing her, in his memoirs. He says the Empress left presents in every 
considerahle town of 100,000 rubles. During two months, he was 
employed, being in the same carriage with her, in throwing out 
money to the attendant crowds. Close by his side in the coach, 
there was a large bag, filled with ducats. The inhabitants along the 
route being assembled around her carriage, he showered the gold 
upon them as they rapidly rode by. In this way, she distributed 
money to the value of some millions of livres. Vide Lettres et Pensies 
du Prince de Ligne, Vol. II. p. 120. 



194 HISTORY OE CATHERINE II. 

city was crowded with an immense multitude of foreigners : 
Greeks, Tartars, French, Spaniards, Poles, English, Germans. 
Among the persons who resorted to the court of Catherine, was 
a Grecian lady of extraordinary beauty and grace, Madame de 
Witt. Her charms obtained the mastery over Potempkin, 
and snatched him entirely away from the crowd of beauties 
who were contending for his princely favours. She obtained 
from the minister, for her husband, the government of the 
city of Kherson. This did not prevent her from committing 
infidelities to her benefactor. Her mother had been a poor 
tradeswoman, at the seraglio in Constantinople. On pretence 
of visiting her, she carried on an intrigue with M. Choiseul, in 
the hotel de France. After the death of Potempkin she 
attached herself to Count Felix Potocky ; but at the solicitation 
of the Count's wife, Catherine confined Madame de Witt in a 
convent. 

The Empress continued her visit to the inland parts of the 
Crimea. She was received with great pomp by the respective 
khans, through whose provinces she passed; and she herself 
was assiduous in gaining the affections of the people. On her 
return she was conducted to Pultowa, the scene of the cele- 
brated defeat of Charles XII. by Peter the Great. She was 
here greeted with a spectacle worthy of the magnificence of 
Potempkin. She beheld two armies drawn out in battle 
array. They approached. They engaged; and the various 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 195 

evolutions of the battle were made accurately to resemble 
those which occurred in the real engagement between those two 
sovereigns. During its progress, the fault of the Swedes 
which lost them the battle, was carefully imitated. Cathe- 
rine then made this, observation : " See on what small matters 
the fates of Empires and of millions are made to depend. Had 
it not been for this single blunder, even v/e had not been here 
to-day.^^ Joseph II. who was still present with Catherine, was 
charmed, with her society, and promised to aid her in any 
attempt she should ever make to place her grandson Constan- 
tino upon the Turkish throne. Yet he could not refrain from 
expressing his surprise at the influence exercised over the 
Empress by her favourite Momonof. His arrogance and 
vanity were unbounded. When playing at whist, when the 
favourite was one of the party, he frequently employed the 
chalk used for marking the progress of the game, in drawing 
rude pictures; while the sovereign, with the cards in her hand, 
obligingly waited till he had finished his scrawl to proceed 
with the game. These trifling incidents often reveal the true 
relations and weaknesses of the great. 

Potempkin, however, was determined on a war with the 
Porte, and exerted his utmost to induce the Turks to com- 
mence hostilities. Though burdened with honours, though 
wearing titles, dignities, and crosses of knighthood, he still 

desired to procure the grand ribbon of the order of St. George. 
I 



196 HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 

To obtain this decoration, it was necessary that he should com- 
mand an army; that he should gain a victory; and that he 
should Ibe crowned as a great conqueror. Little cared he for 
the multitude of lives which must be sacrificed, to gratify his 
inordinate ambition. Driven to desperation, the Turks at 
length, declared war, and both parties prepared for hostilities. 
The Sultan ordered eighty thousand men to march to the 
protection of Otchakof. Another formidable army advanced 
to the shores of the Danube ; and the Grand Vizier himself 
prepared to take command of the Ottoman forces. A large 
fleet of twenty ships of the line was ordered to sail for the 
Euxine Sea. At St. Petersburg, the declaration of war was 
received with transports of joy. The Empress had long since 
made every preparation. Various detachments pf her armies 
were immediately on the march toward the seat of the war. 
The surface of the whole country swarmed with troops. 
Prince Potempkin was appointed generalissimo of all the 
Russian forces. Under his orders were Suwarrof and other 
celebrated generals. Marshal Komantzof, unwilling to act as 
the subaltern of Potempkin, or in any way to enhance his 
glory and his arrogance, excused himself on the score of his 
great age and infirmities. Two strong squadrons, under the 
command of Admirals Kruse and Grrieg, were in readiness at 
Cronstadt to weigh anchor and sail for the Mediterranean. 
Eighty thousand Austrians, being the immense contingent 



' HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 197 

furnished by her ally Joseph II., were on their march toward 
the Turkish frontier. 

Prince Potempkin, in person, commanded the entire Kussian 
armament, which being divided into four detachments, ad- 
vanced by different routes upon the enemy. But while the 
attention of Catherine, and even of Europe, was anxiously 
directed toward the impending conflict upon the Russian 
frontier, another enemy attacked her in a different quarter, and 
that quite unexpectedly. This new and sudden opponent was 
Gustavus, the King of Sweden, between whom and Catherine 
there had been an increasing coldness and jealousy for some 
time past. Gustavus, having ordered the squadron at Carls- 
crona to land the heavy artillery which was on board, proceeded 
at once to assault Fredericksham. The active mind of Cathe- 
rine immediately made such preparation to meet this unex- 
pected emergency as she was capable of. All her vast military 
resources being now marshalled on the distant confines of 
Turkey, she was surrounded with difficulty in making the 
necessary dispositions. She however ordered all the troops 
which were dispersed among the less distant garrisons, to march 
' into Finland, and join the detachments which were already 
there. 

The Grand Duke had earnestly solicited permission of his 
mother, to join the expedition against the Turks. Catherine, 
suspecting that this purpose might conceal some dangerous 



198 HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 

design, dexterously found means to elude it. She desired him 
to delay his journey till after the confinement of his wife^ the 
G-rand Duchess. _ But he was not to be easily prevented from 
fulfilling his purpose. He represented to her, that all Europe 
had heard of his intention to attack the Ottomans. What 
would they say when they knew that he had failed in his pur- 
pose ? The answer of Catherine was that of the mother and 
the Queen, Europe will say, said she, that the Grand Duke 
tf Russia is a dutiful son ! She however granted him leave 
to join the army in Finland against the Swedish monarch. 
But even there, she gave him ho military commission. The 
heir of the empire found himself surrounded by the army, 
destitute of all authority,, watched by spies, and being a mere 
titled nullity. He soon returned to St. Petersburg, where his 
vexation brought on an attack of sickness. 

The Swedish fleet advanced boldly to within sight of the 
batteries of Cronstadt. It consisted of sixteen sail of the line. 
The rest of the Russian line of battle ships were about to sail 
for the Mediterranean, but they received orders to meet the 
Swedish squadron. Meanwhile several bloody and desperate 
engagements had taken place between the Turkish and Rus- 
sian forces at the opposite extremity of the empire. The first 
of these was a general engagement, which occurred off the 
Island of Hohgland. So fierce were the respective combatants, 
and so many ships were disabled on both sides, that each 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 199 

party was compelled to desist for a time, and prepare for a re- 
newal. At eight o'clock p. M., the battle was commenced with 
increased fury. Nothing could exceed the violence of the 
action. The fierceness and obstinacy displayed on both sides, 
exceeded anything known in the bloody annals of war. The 
darkness of the night rendered the confusion -greater. The 
surrounding gloom shut up each ship, as it . were, from the 
rest of the fleet, and confined its knowledge of the fortunes of 
the action to its own sphere. The crew of each vessel fought 
as if the fate of the battle dBpended upon themselves alone. 
The battle at length ceased from the absolute exhaustion of 
both sides. Each claimed the victory, as each had captured a 
flag-ship. Immediately after this engagement. Admiral Grreig, 
who commanded the Russian fleet, sailed for the Grulf of Fin- 
land, where, coming upon the Swedish fleet in the road of 
Sweaborg, he attacked them with indescribable fury, took and 
destroyed the " Grustavus Adolphus," a ship of sixty guns, and 
unfitted the rest for further action. The fleet of Catherine, 
triumphant on two seas, the Caspian and the Euxine, now 
rode the victorious mistress of the waves; and added new 
lustre to the diadem of the invincible Empress. The Swedish 
monarch afterward attacked Fredericksham by land. He 
was there defeated by the treachery of his own troops ; but 
the war was at length closed by the intervention of England 
and Prussia, and peace once more established between the 
courts of Stockholm and St. Petersburg. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OP OTCHAKOF. — SrWAEEOF AND REPNIN. — 
THE RUSSIANS TAKE TUTUKAT. — ^ISMAIL. — PRESENTS OF CATHERINE 
TO HER VICTORIOUS GENERALS. — DISMISSAL OP MOMONOF. — ZUBOF BE- 
COMES FAVOURITE. — HIS FAMILY. — SINGULAR DEATH OF POTEMPKIN. 

The Russian landforceS; assembled on the confines of Turkey, 
under the supreme command of Potempkin, had as yet done 
nothing worthy of themselves, and of the expectations enter- 
tained respecting them. The siege of Otchakof, an important 
Turkish city and fortress, had been begun. Potempkin's 
ambition was now thoroughly aroused, and he determined to 
make a decisive movement. The fortifications were immense. 
The garrison was numerous and well provisioned. The situa- 
tion of the place and its natural advantages, all conspired to 
render it impregnable. The besiegers suffered intensely from 
the cold and from the want of provisions. Numbers of them 
perished from these causes every day. 

Potempkin reconnoitred the place in' the most fearless 
manner. He had been charged with cowardice, and he de- 
termined to refute the allegation. For several days previous to 

the grand assault on which he had resolved, he rode frequently 

(200) 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 201 

to and fro, with the utmost coolness, under the very cannon 
-of the ramparts. On one of these occasions, an officer at his 
side had his thigh carried away by a cannon hall. A cry of 
suffering escaped him, at which Potempkin exclaimed : What 
do you cry for? The next day the officer expired. 

During the assault however, which took place the next day, 
Potempkin remained in the camp, with his mistresses, his 
lieutenants, and his parasites. The attack was general. The 
whole Russian army of one hundred thousand men, moved 
forward to the assault simultaneously. The Turkish garrison 
made a vigorous and desperate defence. The conflict was 
long and bloody, both on the ramparts and in the streets ; nor 
did the besieged yield, until nearly the whole garrison was 
put to the sword, and many thousands of the inhabitants had 
met with the same sad fate. Prince Anhalt-Bernburg, a relation 
of the Empress, who held an important command under Po- 
tempkin, was the first to enter the city, and greatly distin- 
guished himself during the assault. 

After the capture of Otchakof, the place was given up to 
rapine and plunder. Twenty-five thousand captives were 
taken. The Russian soldiers entered the houses, and after 
putting the men to death, abandoned themselves to all the 
excesses of debauchery and violence, from which neither sex 
nor age was exempt, and then carried away whatever valuables 
they could secure.. These scenes of riot and lust lasted three 



202 ' HISTORY OP CATHERINE 11. 

days, during which it is said, twenty thousand Turks were 
slain in cold blood. The capture of Otchakof took place on 
the festival of St. Nicholas, the national patron of Russia ; so 
that the superstition of the soldiery attributed their success to 
the auspices of the saint. Four thousand women, of remarka- 
ble beauty, were included among the prisoners who graced the 
bloody triumph of the conquerors. During the assault the 
Russians lost twelve thousand men. 

Catherine received the news of the fall of Otchakof with 
pleasure. She was fully conscious of the important events 
which hung upon that triumph. She rewarded her successful 
and faithful servants, with. more than her usual magnificence. 
To the Commander-in-chief Prince Potempkin, she sent one 
hundred thousand rubles, a MarshaFs truncheon, a letter of 
thanks, and a medal struck to immortalize his glory. To her 
intrepid Generals Suwarrof* and Repnin, she gave magnificent 

* Suwarrof somewhat resembled, both in the superiority of his 
genius, and his abruptness of manner, the peculiarities of Na- 
poleon. On one occasion, in an intervi,e"W with M. De Lameth, a 
French traveller, he addressed him as follows : *' To what country do 
you belong ? said the General, rudely. — France. What profession ? — 
Military. — ^What rank ?— Colonel. — Your namB ? De Lameth. — Good."- 
M.- De Lameth, annoyed at this manner of interrogation, said to 
Suwarrof: "To what country do you belong? — Russia. — What pro- 
fession ? — Military. — What rank ? — General.— What name ? — Suwar- 
rof. — Good." Both immediately fell to laughing, and were thence- 
forward good friends. Segur's Memoires, I. 57. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 203 

swords, richly set with diamonds^ and gorgeous plumes of 
brilliants, to be worn at the head of the army. To other in- 
ferior commanders she gave estates, slaves, and money. To 
the widow of a colonel of artillery who was slain in the attack, 
she gave an annuity ; and promotions took place from the 
ranks in immense numbers. 

The victorious troops now proceeded to other triumphs. 
Prince Potempkin took the Isle of Beresan. Repnin drove the 
Turks from the borders of the Splska. Suwarrof beat them at 
Fokshani. This was followed by the capture of Tutukay, in 
Bulgaria : and Bender surrendered at discretion. Near Mar- 
tineski, thirty thousand Russians under the command of 
Suwarrof and the Prince of Coburg, were attacked by one 
hundred thousand Turks, when the latter were vanquished 
with terrible slaughter, and an incredible number of them slain. 
Nothing but the blunted swords and wearied horses of the 
pursuers, prevented still greater havoc among the fugitives. 
The whole Turkish camp as it- stood, including the G-rand 
Vizier's tents and equipage, three hundred camels, four hun- 
dred oxen, five thousand loaded wagons, eight thousand tents, 
twenty pieces of heavy cannon, sixty-four field-pieces, one 
hundred standards, and a prodigious quantity of ammunition 
and stores, were among the trophies of the victors. The last 
of the Russian conquests, previous to the proclamation of 
peace, was that of the fortress of Ismail. The siege of this place 



204 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

had continued some months. Potempkin sent orders to Suwarrof 
that it must be taken within three days. The first and second 
assaults were unsuccessful. At the third and most desperate 
attack, the ramparts were forced, and the town taken, but not 
till after the slaughter of fifteen thousand Russians, who pur- 
chased with rivers of blood, the triumph of the haughty 
Potempkin. After the capture, Suwarrof, who commanded 
under Potempkin, wrote to the Empress this laconic epistle : 
*^ The proud Ismail is at your feet V The Turkish general, 
Hassan, who liad been raised to the dignity of Grand Vizier, 
in order to command the troops of the Sultan against the 
Russians, broken down by so many disasters, died of vexation 
in his camp. 

Catherine was sufficiently elated at the news of these extra- 
ordinary successes. Potempkin left the army, in thq camp 
upon the shores of the Caspian sea, and hastened to St. Peters- 
burg, to enjoy the triumphs which there awaited him. The 
Empress received him with transports of joy. She again lavish- 
ed upon him immense presents. A splendid palace, contiguous 
to her own, which had been repaired at the expense of six 
hundred thousand rubles, she presented him ; together with 
a coat laced with diamonds, which cost two hundred thousand 
rubles. He displayed a pomp which would have been exces- 
sive in the most splendid court of Europe. He purchased 
cherries in the middle of winter at a ruble a-piece. He one 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 205 

day took a dislike to his diamonds, and they were all sold. 
Soon after he desired again to possess them, and he ordered 
them to be purchased anywhere, at any price. Yet amid all 
his lavish expenditure, he possessed the vulgar weakness of 
not paying his debts, which he seemed to regard as a function 
beneath his dignity. During his stay of five months at St. 
Petersburg, he spent upward of a million of rubles. He 
expended incalculable sums in the splendid entertainments • 
which he gave the Empress. His illuminated palaces and 
gardens, the gold, silver, and diamonds, the magic theatres, 
and artificial elephants, glittering with rubies and emeralds, 
and all the other inventions of his most lavish prodigality, 
it were vain to attempt to describe. They rivalled, if not 
exceeded the wonders of the Arabian Nights Entertainments. 
Even the imperial Catherine expressed her astonishment at 
the indescribable magnificence displayed by her noble subject, 
in his efforts to entertain and amuse his sovereign. 

After a residence of five months at the capital, Potempkin 
returned to the army. Though satiated with pomp and 
grandeur, with every triumph and pleasure, which millions 
could purchase, he was still restless and wretched, exhibiting 
by the frequent sighs which he uttered, the gloom and sad- 
ness which pervaded his soul. His singular end was not very 
far distant. But before we approach the closing scenes of this 
most remarkable man's life, it will be proper to notice a change 



206 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

which had occurred in the domestic arrangements and pleasures 
of the sovereign. 

Her favourite Momonof had enjoyed her real affection, but 
he made her no adequate returns of regard or faithfulness.. 
Catherine was now old, and had lost the charms, but not the 
passions, of her youth. Momonof regarded his connexion with 
her as a brilliant and gilded slavery, and his heatt had been 
won by a beautiful lady who served among the Empress's 
maids of honour. ". She was a daughter of Prince Scherbatof, 
was q.uite handsome, sprightly, and withalj_ very much dis- 
posed to the pleasures of gallantry. One day Momonof, who 
as yet had enjoyed no intimacy with her, heard Potempkin 
speak in praise of her charms. He was thunderstruck. He 
knew that Potempkin's power was such, that he had only to 
desire, in order to possess; Momonof immediately ran and- 
threw himself on his knees to the Princess Scherbatof, and 
imparted to her the cause "of his fears. The Princess imme- 
diately promised the favourite, the possession of all that he 
desired; and his apprehensions were soon dispelled, by the 
faithfulness with which she fulfilled her engagement. 

This intimacy subsisted for so long a time that it became 
known to all the court. Catherine alone was ignorant of the 
infidelity of her favourite. At length one of her. courtiers 
communicated to her the fact, accompanied with the proof. 
She was much offended at the discovery, but resolved to con- 



HISTOBY OF CATHERINE H. 207 

ceal her chagrin. She proposed to Momonof to marry the 
Countess Bruce, one of the richest heiresses of her empire, 
who had just been presented at court. Momonof implored 
her not to insist upon it, and revealed to his mistress the fact, 
that he was inseparably attached to the Princess Scherbatof. 
She wanted no further excuse. The lovers were married the 
next day, and immediately set off for Moscow. 

Though bound by every principle of gratitude and honour 
to respect the Empress, his late bepefactress, Momonof was 
guilty of the baseness and the imprudence of mentioning to 
his wife, the particulars of his interviews with the Empress. 
She afterward divulged them with a levity injurious to the 
dignity of the sovereign. They were soon punished by the 
latter with a severity, commensurate with the degree of their 
baseness. One night when Momonof and his wife had re- 
tired to rest, the Chief of the Police at Moscow entered their 
apartment, and having shown them the order of the Empress 
in her own handwriting, which they immediately recognised, 
he left them in the hands of six women, and retired to an 
adjoining apartment. Then the six women, or rather the six 
men dressed as women, seized the babbling lady, and having 
stripped her entirely of her clothes, inflicted upon her a severe 
flogging; while her terrified husband was compelled to kneel 
down during the disagreeable operation. After the chastise- 
ment had been inflicted, the Chief of Police entered and said : 



208 HISTORY OF CATHERINE U. 

" This is the way the Empress punishes a first indiscretion ; 
for the second people are sent to Siberia." 
, The very day of Momonof ^s dismissal, the oflGiee of favour- 
ite was conferred upon Plato Zuhof, an officer in the horse 
guards. This was the last person who was elevated to that 
anomalous and equivocal dignity by the imperial Catherine. 
Her choice in this instance was not agreeable to Potempkin. 
But from the day of his elevation, Zubof had rendered him- 
self so acceptable to his mistress, that even Potempkin^s influ- 
ence could not dislodge him. Fortunately for the favourite, 
the all-powerful minister shortly after departed to the camp upon 
the shores of the Caspian, and he was thus left undisturbed 
in the enjoyment of his good fortune, which continued until 
the death of the Empress cut short for ever both her pleasures, 
and his dignity. 

After his arrival at the Russian camp. Prince Potempkin 
accomplished nothing worthy of his genius and fame. He 
did not even live to conclude the treaty which took pkce 
between the Turkish and Russian empires. An epidemical 
fever attacked him, while attending the congress at Yassy. 
He nevertheless continued his strange life of the most un- 
bounded gluttony and debauchery. He was surrounded by 
a numerous and sumptuous retinue of women and courtiers. 
His conduct was of the most singular and extravagant descrip- 
tion. He was known sometimes for a month, to pass whole 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE IL 200 

days in the apartments of a young female, neglecting alike 
all business, and all decorum. Sometimes for a week lie would 
remain shut up in his room with his women, and his male 
intimates, lounging on a sofa, without speaking, playing at 
chess or at cards, with his legs bare, his shirt collar unbuttoned, 
in a loose morning-gown, apparently in a state of abstraction, 
and presenting the appearance of one deranged.* 

But the strange career of this extraordinary being was about 
to close, in a manner, and under circumstances equally remark- 
able. Potempkin^s disease, aggravated by his absurd diet, and 
his excessive indulgences, became at length so serious as to ex- 
cite his own apprehensions. He imagined that by removing 
from Yassy, he would recover. He therefore resolved to set out 
for Nicolayef, a town which he himself had built at the con- 
fluence of the Inqul with the Boque. Scarcely had he pro- 
gressed three leagues upon his journey, when he suddenly 
found himself much worse. He alighted from his carriage in 
the middle of the public road. He threw himself on the 
grass, beneath a tree, and there he expired in intense suffering, 
in the arms of the Countess Branicka, his favourite mistress. 
He for whose grasping ambition, a hundred palaces had scarcely 
been sufficient, died at length upon the bare bosom of the earth, 

* Vide Memoirs of Le Compte de Segur, formerly French ambassador 
at the court of St. Petersburg, and not less distinguished for his lite- 
rary, than his political talents. Vol. II. p. 221, 



210 HISTORY OP CATHERINE II. 

with no shelter above him but the vast canopy of heaven. He 
around whom multitudes of obsequious courtiers and depend- 
ants had bowed with reverence, and had waited on his every 
whim, bade the world an unwilling adieu, alone in the desert, 
with but very few attendants to minister to his last wants, 
and close his dying eyes. He expired on the 15th of October, 
1791, at the age of fifty-two. His remains were transported 
to Kherson, where the Empress allotted a hundred thousand 
rubles to erect a splendid mausoleum over them. 

Immediately after his death, a report was circulated that he 
had died of poison. His body on being brought to Yassy, was 
therefore opened ; but not the least trace of poison could be 
discovered to justify the suspicion. His name will for ever 
hold a conspicuous place in the annals of Russian grandeur 
and conquest. He was a man of extraordinary, though 
eccentric abilities. In him Catherine lost her ablest statesman 
and general, as well as the firmest and proudest supporter of 
her throne. Four years afterward, she herself, under circum- 
stances not less singular and remarkable, followed her early 
lover, and mighty minister, to the unbroken silence of the 
grave. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE EMPEESS PROPOSES TO PURCHASE VOLTAIRE'S LIBRARY. — SHE 
OBTAINS IT.— SHE SENDS AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH- 
ERN ARCHIPELAGO.— ANOTHER TO THE CAUCASUS. — ANOTHER TO 
JAPAN. — AND ANOTHER TO CHINA. — HER TRANSACTIONS WITH THE 
TURKS. — POTEMPKIN AGAIN. — HIS ECCENTRICITIES.— HIS MENTAL 
QUALITIES. — HIS YAST WEALTH. — HIS ABSOLUTE INFLUENCE OVER 
CATHERINE. — HIS PHYSICAL APPEARANCE. — ^ADAPTED TO GOVERN NO 
OTHER COUNTRY BUT RUSSIA. 

Catherine II., though the sovereign of a nation compara- 
tively young in the achievements of science, allowed no 
opportunity to pass by, in which she could display her approval 
of men of letters, and her disposition to patronize genius, in 
every department of its labours. She even travelled beyond 
the confines of her own dominions, in order to display the 
spirit of a munificent patroness of science. 

We have already stated, that on the death of Diderot, and 
of D'Alembert, the Empress purchased theirjibraries. The 
celebrated professor Pallas, during his travels in the interior 
of Kussia, collected a vast quantity of natural curiosities, and 
thus accumulated a cabinet of rare value and interest. Cathe- 
rine appropriated it to herself, by the payment of a large sum ; 

(211) 



212 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

as she did everything else which served to illustrate the re- 
sources of her empire, or to impart information as to its 
character and possessions. 

On the death of Voltaire, as we have already said, she 
commissioned M. Grimm, her literary agent at Paris, to en- 
deavour to secure for her the library of the author of " Maho- 
met." Madame Denis, who had inherited this library, having 
informed him that she would not sell it ; but would be happy 
to present it, as a testimony of her homage, to so great a 
Princess, and so gifted a woman, the Empress wrote to her 
as follows. " I have just learned. Madam, that you consent 
to make a surrender to me, of that precious deposit, left you 
by your late uncle; that library which souls of sensibility 
will never behold without recollecting, that this great man had 
the art of inspiring mankind with that universal benevolence, 
which all his writings breathe, even those of mere entertain- 
ment, because his- soul was deeply penetrated with it. No 
man before him ever wrote like him : to future generations 
he will be both an example and a rock. To equal him, genius 
and philosophy must unite in one person with literature and 
entertainment. In one word, he must be M. de Voltaire. 
If Madame, with all Europe, I have shared in your grief, for 
the loss of that incomparable man, you have entitled yourself 
to participate in the grateful returns I owe to his writings. 
I am indeed extremely sensible to the esteem and confidence 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 213 

which you show me. It is highly flattering to me, to see that 
they are hereditary in your family. The generosity of your 
conduct, is your security for my favourable sentiments in 
regard to you. I have written to M. de Grrimm to deliver to 
you some inconsiderable testimonies of it, which I desire you 
to accept." On the cover of this letter, the Empress wrote, 
with her own hands as follows : " For Madame Denis, niece of 
a great man, who loved me much." She also requested of 
Madame Denis to send her a plan in relief, of the interior dis- 
tribution of the Chateau de Ferney, as well as of the gardens 
and its avenues, as she proposed to erect a building like it, 
adjacent to her palace at St. Petersburg. 

Catherine employed learned men expressly to travel through- 
out her dominions, to make researches as to the condition of 
the country and people, in order to aid her in the work of 
legislating for their interests. In 1786, she sent several of 
these expeditions to the northern Archipelago, and to the re- 
motest provinces of the Russian empire. Some even were 
despatched to the Caucasus and the confines of China. The 
difficulties to which such an expedition by land was liable, 
from the severity of the climate, the hostility of the inhabit- 
ants, and the trackless regions to be explored, rendered the 
attempt almost as dangerous as a circumnavigation of the 
globe, or the most distant voyage of discovery. It was there- 
fore necessary to secure the services of the most intrepid men. 



214 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

The Baron de Stedtz, who had commanded a regiment of 
cavalry in the Empress's service, was the person whom she 
selected to conduct the expedition to the Caucasus, upon which 
she had determined. His corps consisted of eight hundred 
chosen men, who were led on by one hundred officers of va- 
rious grades and distinctions, accompanied by pioneers, ar- 
tillery men, engineers, historiographers and naturalists. They 
were abundantly provided with all kinds of necessaries, and 
were furnished with credentials suited to all situations. Three 
years were allowed for the performance of the expedition. 

The results which were attained by it were various and 
valuable. They ascertained that there was a colony of strangers 
and Christians shut out from the world, in the. remotest part 
of the Caucasian Mountains. These people were said to lead 
lives of the most exemplary piety, and to retain manners of 
primitive simplicity. They were entirely ignorant of their 
origin. They considered themselves as strangers, and were re- 
garded as such by the surrounding nations. From the re- 
semblance of language and other affinities, it was supposed 
that they were a colony of Bohemians, who at a remote period, 
had fled from the persecutions of their own country, and had 
sought refuge amid the mountain solitudes of the Caucasus. 
Not satisfied with these discoveries, Catherine sent another 
expedition by sea, to add to the information already received. 
She appointed Colonel Blaumayer to conduct it ; who was 



• HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 215 

ordered to take along with him, able navigators, persons 
skilled in various arts, to make the proper investigations, and 
to turn to the greatest advantage, the discoveries which might 
be made. They were directed to embark at the mouth of the 
river Anadyr, and to examine carefully the several inhabited 
islands which lie about the sixty-fourth degree of latitude, and 
are in situations favourable to trade. They were ordered to 
enter the straits which separate Siberia from America; to 
pursue their course at least as far as the sefenty-fourth degree 
of latitude ; and if the seas were navigable, as much farther 
as possible. This expedition presents to view a singular, and 
perhaps an unparalleled circumstance in history : that of a 
great sovereign, appointing an expedition for the purpose of 
discovering new countries within her own dominions, and of 
ascertaining how far her authority was already extended ! 

In 1787, Catherine commissioned Captain Billings, who 
had been the associate of Cook in his celebrated voyages around, 
the world, to explore the coasts of Jwpan. The principal ob- 
ject of this expedition was to obtain a port for the commerce 
of her subjects with that remote and jealous nation. They 
selected a place not far from the mouth of the river Amoor, 
as suitable for that purpose. In 1788, Catherine sent an 
army from the Baltic to Kamschatka, to co-operate with the 
forces sent to Japan, to take possession of the banks of the 
river Amoor, and establish a fort to protect her commerce. 



216 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. , 

Among the fruits of this expedition was the capture of a 
woman, whom the inhabitants of Japan were represented as 
having carried oflf from America, and who related, that she 
came from a part of the continent very remote from that coast. 
She appeared to be the representative of a race then unknown 
to the rest of the civilized world. 

From the remote northern region which had engaged the 
attention of Catherine, she now turned her thoughts to the 
opposite extremity of her dominions, and published a mani- 
festo, for the purpose of increasing the inhabitants of her 
provinces of Tauris and the Caucasus. In that manifesto, 
the specious monarch uses the following language : " The pro- 
tection which we uniformly grant to strangers who come into 
our empire, either to carry on commerce, or to exercise their 
industry, is well known. Every one may enjoy in our do- 
minions, the exercise of the religion of his fathers, a perfect 
security, and the protection of the laws. All the necessaries 
and comforts of life, as well as the means of acquiring riches, 
offer themselves in the territory of the Caucasus; which is 
subject to our authority, and affords these advantages in 
greater abundance than any other provinces of our empire. 
Foreigners who are willing to settle there, whether in the 
towns or in the country, will be sure to find a peaceful asylum, 
with many advantages. They shall be, during six years, 
exempt from all duties to the crown ; and if, at the expiration 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 217 

of that term, they may desire to leave our dominions, they 
shall be at full liberty to go, on paying only the taxes for 
three years." The two seaports of Feodosia and Eupatoria 
in Tauris, were declared free ports for the term of thirty 
years, and leave was granted to all Russian as well as all 
foreign merchants, not only to import all sorts of goods and 
merchandise into those ports free of duty, but also to export 
them thence, in the same manner. By another decree pror 
claimed shortly afterward, she abolished the title of " slaves^ ^ 
throughout all her dominions in Russia and Tartary, and sub- 
stituted that of " subjects." By these means Catherine won 
the affection of those she governed. She took other means to 
gain this end; even condescending to caress their children, on all 
occasions when they came into her presence ; frequently allow- 
ing them access to her apartments ; returning their caresses 
with extreme complaisance; and causing her grandchildren 
to play with them in their familiar sports. 

The attention of the Empress was now attracted to her 
ancient and formidable rivals, the Turks. In 1790, Selim 
III. ascended the Ottoman throne. This prince was then 
twenty-eight years of age. He had been reared and educated 
by his uncle, Achmet IV., his predecessor, with the greatest 
care; and the best principles becoming a prince had been 
taught him. His uncle had set aside his own legitimate issue 
from the succession, in consequence of a promise made by 



218 HISTORY OF CATHERINE U. 

him to his brother, whom he had' himself succeeded, solem- 
nized by him on his deathbed. G-reat hopes were entertained 
of Selim, that he would restore the ancient splendour and 
power of the Ottoman empire, while the fierceness and energy 
of his character seemed to presage the truth of the supposition. 
But he soon showed himself unworthy of the good faith which 
his uncle had kept toward him, as well as of the distinguished 
post which he occupied. He commenced his reign with acts 
of the greatest cruelty and rapacity. He stained his throne 
with blood and crime. 

The first act of violence which he perpetrated, was the ruin 
of the Grand Vizier Yussvf. The wealth of this man was 
estimated at one million pounds sterling. As soon as he dis- 
covered that the rapacious eye of Selim was fixed upon him, 
he offered his wealth as the price of his liberty and life. But 
his blood was doomed to be the penalty of his opulence. He 
was seized at the head of the grand army, which he com- 
manded at Buschiuk ; was conveyed a prisoner to Constanti- 
nople, and sentenced to banishment and the forfeiture of his 
treasures. But the tyrant thought that this punishment was 
too light for the crime of being a rich and great subject; 
and Yussuf was assassinated by the order of the Sultan before 
he reached the place of his exile. His head was then brought 
back in triumph, and hung up to adorn, or disgrace, the gates 
of the Seraglio. Confiscations and executions now became the 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 219 

order of the day; and distance, poverty, and obscurity alone 
could protect the subjects of the Sultan from his destructive 
rapacity. He proceeded to trifle with the most cherished 
institutions of his empire. He overturned all the wise and 
judicious arrangements which had been made by his uncle; 
and not an officer wJbora that prince had appointed to any high 
trust, but was turned out by his successor. This was the 
monarch with whom Catherine had now to deal in the south- 
eastern extremity of Europe. 

Her commanding officer there, General Kamenskoi, had 
posted his troops in such a manner through the winter, that 
without forming a regular blockade, he had nevertheless 
greatly incommoded the garrison of Bender by cutting off 
their supplies. When summer approached, the difficulties of 
the garrison increased. It became indispensably necessary for 
the Turks to come to their relief. The Prince of Anhalt- 
Bernburg, who had so distinguished himself at the capture 
of the fortress of Otchakof, now commanded a detachment 
of Kamenskoi's army, and had an opportunity of adding 
new laurels to those which he had already won. He fell in 
with eight thousand Turkish cavalry on the Dniester, who 
were then bringing relief to the garrison of Bender; and 
though his forces were inferior in number, he instantly attacked 

the Turks, routed their whole force, took a large number of 
J 



220 HISTORY OF CATHERINE U. 

prisoners, among wliom was their commander, together with 
their baggage and convoy. 

The Grand Yizier now entered the province of Wallacia 
with an army of one hundred thousand men. The combined 
forces of Austria and Russia, under the Prince of Coburg, and 
Suwarrof, again attacked him with an army of thirty thousand 
men, near Martinesti, and gained a complete and signal victory. 
About five thousand Turks were killed upon the spot, and two 
thousand afterward in the pursuit. The whole camp of the 
Vizier, as it stood, with his tents and equipage, became the 
property of the victors. A few hundred killed and wounded 
constituted the whole loss of the latter. The Russians pur- 
sued their conquests to the E'uxine, where the strong seaport 
of Akarman, at the mouth of the Dniester, fell into their 
hands. Kylia Nova, another fortress on the northern bank of 
the Danube, which was a conquest of importance to the com- 
merce of Russia, also became the prey of the victorious legions 
of the Empress, and served to swell the splendour of her 
triumph. Elated at these and other successes which attended 
her arms, she said ironically to Sir Charles Whitworth, the 
English Ambassador, when he next appeared at court : " Sir, 
since the King, your master, seems determined to drive me 
out of St. Petersburg, I hope he will allow me to retire to 
Constantinople \" 

Potempkin during this campaign employed the services of 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 221 

several French officers, emigrants, and fugitives from the hor- 
rors of the Revolution, which at that time ravaged their native 
land. Among these were Roger Damas, Langeron, and the 
younger Richelieu, each of whom distinguished himself at the 
capture of Ismail. Some days after that event, Potempkin 
was discoursing of the Revolution to the French officers, and 
treating it as a crime for a nation to put forth any exertion to 
regain their liberty. He said to Langeron : ^' Colonel, your 
countrymen are a pack of hounds and madmen. If my grooms 
would stand by me, I should soon bring them to their senses." 
Though Langeron was an emigrant from his native country, 
yet he would not hear it thus traduced, and he answered : 
" Prince, I do not think you would be able to do it, with your 
whole army." Potempkin was much enraged, and threatened 
to send Langeron to Siberia, there to meditate at his leisure 
on the power of Russian tyranny. Langeron instantly left 
the army, crossed the Seret, which divides Moldavia from Wal- 
lacia, and entered the Austrian camp. Thus love of country, 
though even of a country so debased and degraded as was 
France, when under the destructive sway of popular dema- 
gogues, will follow exiles to the most distant quarters of the 
globe. 

The most remarkable person, after Catherine herself, in her 
whole empire, was the Prince whom we have just named 
— PbtempJcin. We have had frequen^ occasion already to 



222 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

allude to his character, his magnificence, and his eccen- 
tricities. He required major-generals to wait humbly on his 
person, and fulfil the duties of valets-de-chamhre ; nor did this 
servility of conduct on their part, hinder their promotion in 
the service, but it rather advanced it. A lady, well known at 
St. Petersburg, whose husband held an office at court, declared 
publicly, that she would travel with Potempkin, who had 
already presented her an estate of two thousand rubles a year, 
to go and pass the summer with him at Yafiy. 

He was anxious to procure the most rare and costly articles, 
which, as soon as possessed, he forgot, and never again looked 
at. He purchased a dozen violins at the most extravagant 
prices ; one of which alone cost him six thousand rubles. Yet 
he never played on the violin in his life, and his valuable 
instruments were soon ruined by the dust, or destroyed by the 
rats. Some one boasting of his library, Potempkin declared 
that he had one more valuable than any owned by the learned 
men of Europe. He opened a book case, and there exhibited 
several shelves of books, which, on being taken down, were 
found to be nothing else than boxes gilt, and lettered on the 
backs, filled with bank notes, and rouleaus of ducats, of an 
incredible value. He was very whimsical, notwithstanding 
his vast wealth, and his magnificent mode of life, respecting 
the payment of his debts. When any one waited on him to 
obtain money, he would say carelessly to Popof, his private 



. HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 223 

secretary : " Why don't you pay that man V^ at the same time 
giving him to understand by his manner how he intended the 
applicant to be treated. If he opened his hand, Popof paid 
the money. If he shut it, the creditor got nothing. He was 
harsh with his officers, but was condescending and affable to 
the soldiers. It was supposed that this conduct was agreed 
upon between the Empress and the Prince, in order to put 
discord between the offi.cers and soldiers ; each of them being 
aware, that as all revolutions are affected in Russia by the 
soldiers, it was much more important to win the good-will of 
the latter. 

The most wonderful projects, for his future aggrandisement, 
have been ascribed to him. It is asserted, that he had de- 
termined, at the death of the Empress, to exclude the Grand 
Duke Paul from the succession, and by means of the influence 
of the troops to place the eldest G-rand Duchess on the throne, 
marry her, and thus seat himself by her side, as sovereign of 
all the Russias. It is added, in support of this conjecture, 
that he always pretended to defend whatever the Grand 
Duchess asserted ; and that he constantly and carefully courted 
her good-will. Others assert, that he had determined to be 
proclaimed hospodar or sovereign of Moldavia. He had gained 
the kind feeling of the nobility of that country. He had 
caressed them all, from the greatest to the least. And it is 
probable that Catherine would have assisted his pretensions ; 



224 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

inasmuch as by so doing, she would have brought that country 
under her own dominion as she had already done that of the 
Crimea. But his ambitious projects, of this description, he 
never realized. 

From his great sagacity and penetration, Catherine admitted 
him into the secret of all her plans and purposes. She valued 
him the more, because he kept the Grand Duke in awe, of 
whose ambitious purposes she sometimes entertained unpleasant 
apprehensions. Potempkin died at a time when Catherine 
was far advanced in years, and when she reposed confidence 
in no one else but in him. It was at a time also when it was 
too late for her to train up another man to perform the im- 
portant services which he had long rendered her, and which 
were indispensable to the prosperity and stability of her empire. 
Potempkin' s particular department was that of the army, 
which in Russia was the most important branch of the govern- 
ment. Potempkin frequently neglected its interests, and a 
want of provisions and forage was a frequent occurrence. But 
he was a favourite with the soldiers, who looked with a lenient 
eye on his occasional neglect of their necessities, and ascribed it 
to the eccentricity of his character. Great carelessness charac- 
terized him in some respects. Thus in his private affairs the 
same weakness appears. His palace at St. Petersburg exhibited 
the greatest confusion. It was a frequent thing for the visiter 
,to pass through a suite of apartments without finding a single 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 225 

servant to take his card. Sometimes not a piece of bread 
was to be found in it; but there was always an abundance of 
petit-pates and champagne. 

Potempkin possessed a thorough knowledge of his country, 
and of its inhabitants. He therefore would treat Russian 
officers very differently from the manner which he observed 
toward the soldiers and officers of other nations. The latter 
he kept seated beside him. The former he required to stand; 
and never allowed them to pass within the sill of his door, 
but required them to await, or to address him from without. 
He had never travelled in foreign countries, and yet he knew 
what treatment was best adapted to secure the respect of 
natives of all the countries of Europe. It was remarkable in 
his history, that having ceased to be the favourite of Cathe- 
rine in a more tender relation, instead of falling into disgrace, 
or at least into neglect, as was the fate of all her Other favour- 
ites who ceased to please her capricious taste, he still retained 
unbounded influence over her, by the pure force of his superior 
genius. He retained his absolute power also, without ever 
allowing any of the Empress's subsequent favourites, some of 
whom she devotedly loved, to weaken his supremacy in state 
affairs ; and this circumstance is as creditable to Catherine as it 
is to Potempkin. It shows that she was able to make her 
violent passions subservient and obedient to the dictates of her 
reason ; inasmuch as none of her favourites were allowed to con- 



226 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

trol; or interfere with, the measures of a man, whom she knew 
to be so useful, and even necessary, to her administration. 

Amid his official duties, Potempkin amused himself, at 
intervals, in having Plutarch read to him. When he came 
to the life of Agesilaus, and the description of his conquests, 
he interrupted the reader, and after being buried in thought 
for a few moments, asked him : " Think you that I could 
go at some future period to Constantinople ?" The reader 
replied, ^^ If the sovereign pleases, there is nothing to prevent 
your doing so." ^^ That is enough," returned the Prince, 
" if any one was to inform me to-day, that I should never see 
Constantinople, I should shoot myself through the head." 
His grasping ambition had even induced him to meditate the 
conquest of China ; and preparations were actually made for 
taking possession of the Amoor at Nertshinck, where the 
Russians have their gold and silver mines. His premature 
death put an end to all his ambitious schemes for the subju- 
gation of China and of Turkey. His impression was, that 
ten thousand Russians could conquer China ; so contemptuous 
an opinion did he entertain for the inhabitants of the Celestial 
Empire. He possessed a large degree of political and diplo- 
matical dexterity. He was much incensed at the details of 
the French Revolution. He was several times overheard, talk- 
ing to himself on that subject, accompanying his meditations 
with violent gesticulations. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 227 

Nature had gifted this remarkable man with a gigantic 
stature, and with a degree of bodily strength, such as made 
him resemble Hercules and Theseus of former ages. The 
same peculiarity also belonged to Grregory Orlof, another fa- 
vourite of the amative Empress. When first beheld, Potemp- 
kin had something fierce in his appearance, which exhibited 

a singular mixture of rude and of cultivated nature. His 

* 

look was animated and piercing. His countenance was ex- 
pressive and lofty ; such as became the head of a Richelieu or 
a Mazarin ; yet placed on the robust shoulders of a savage. 
He was prone to silence, and eager to listen. His usual 
maxim was to let people talk, and they will expose themselves, 
and give him all the advantage he desired. His silence was ) 
the silence of thought and reflectionT^ He was, at once, indo- 
lent and indefatigable, turbulent and discreet. He paid but 
little attention to the opinions of a world which he despised. 
His impulses allowed of no restraint nor limit. He made 
half a continent subservient to the indulgence of every passion, 
to the gratification of every whim. His mind was a singular 
compound of untutored genius, of grasping ambition, of in- 
satiable avarice, of ungoverned lust, of all noble instincts, 
and of all beastly passions. He was a lion held by a single ) 
chain, and that chain was in the hand of the Empress. 

Potempkin was ever promising and rarely keeping his 
word. He had conversed with men in all professions and 



228 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

branches of knowledge and labour j had treasured up the in- 
formation thus obtained ; and though he never opened a book, 
yet he seemed to be well informed, and even learned, in all 
departments of knowledge. None knew better how to draw 
forth the information of others and appropriate it to himself. 
The inequality of his temper was productive of an amazing 
eccentricity in his desires and in his conduct. At one time 
he determined to become the Duke of Courland, in the place 
of Biren, the legitimate owner of that dignity. At another, 
he bethought him of deposing. Augustus, King of Poland, and 
himself assuming the sceptre of which he would have despoiled 
him. Sometimes he declared that he would be made a bishop. . 
Then again he would proclaim his intention of becoming a 
monk, and retiring from the world. He built himself a superb 
palace, and wished to sell it before it was finished. One day 
he would speak of nothing but war, and no one but officers 
and soldiers, Tartars and Cossacks, were admitted to his 
presence. The next day he had no ear for anything but the 
details of the administration of peace. Sometimes he would 
partition off, in his plans, the Ottoman Empire, and put in 
agitation all the courts of Europe. At other times, dressed 
in magnificent clothes, covered with orders presented him by 
every sovereign of Europe, glittering with diamonds of extra- 
ordinary value, he would give superb entertainments, without 
any object whatever. He began everything ; he finished no- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE IL 229 

thing. He disordered the finances; he disorganized the 
army. He depopulated his country; he enriched it at the 
same time. His conquests increased the territories of his 
mistress, while his weaknesses impaired her influence and 
supremacy throughout Europe. He was not a great man, hut 
he was an extraordinary man. What is most remarkable 
about him is the fact, that his character and genius, such 
as they were, were admirably adapted to the wants of Cathe- 
rine and of Russia at that particular time. With no other 
woman, and in no other country could he ever have attained 
any extraordinary influence and power. 

We have presented these details concerning this minister, 
inasmuch as no correct idea can be formed of the reign a:nd 
the empire of his mistress, without them. The administration 
of Catherine II. may justly be termed the reign of Catherine 
and Potempkin. To read the history of Catherine, without 
adding that of her great Minister, is almost like reading " the 
play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet left out I" 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THE DFCHT OP COUELAND. — HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY. — MORALS OF 
THE PEOPLE. — THEIR MODE OF GOVERNMENT. — CATHERINE DETER- 
MINES TO ANNEX THE DUCHY TO HER DOMINIONS.— HER POLITICAL 
INTRIGUES. — SHE SUCCEEDS IN HER PURPOSE. — CATHERINE'S ATTEN- 
TION TO THE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF HER PEOPLE. — THE IMPROVE- 
MENT OF HER CAPITAL. — INUNDATIONS OF ST. PETERSBURG. — HEK 
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. — VARIOUS DETAILS OF HER ADMINIS- 
TRATION. 

Throughout her reign, the condition of the Duchy of Cour- 
land excited a large share of Catherine's attention. This 
country; situated between the 56th and the 58th degree of north 
latitude, is divided into three parts; into Courland proper, 
Semigallia, and the circle of Pilten. It is bounded by Livo- 
nia, Lithuania, and the Baltic. After the death of the sangui- 
nary Biren, this country was governed by his feeble son, 
the Duke Peter. It is favourably situated for navigation; 
having three hundred leagues of coast on the Baltic Sea. The 
mouth of the river Vindau, which is never closed by the ice, 
is admirably suited as a station for a fleet. It might with 
ease be made capable of contaming a hundred ships of the 
line, which could always keep the neighboring nations of 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 231 

Denmark and Sweden in awe. The cHmate of the country is 
good, though cold. The inhabitants are robust, and live to a 
great age. The soil is generally fertile, producing an abund- 
ance of fruits, vegetables, grain, and valuable timber. The 
forests are abundant in game, and the rivers teem with fish. 
There are quarries of marble, and mines of iron, as well as 
of coal. The exports furnished by Courland, are wheat, bar- 
ley, oats, timber, hemp, flax, furs, hides, and other commodi- 
ties. The country, however, possessed no manufactures ; so 
that not only all articles of luxury, but also many necessary 
and indispensable fabrics, came from abroad,' — from Germany, 
Denmark, and England. 

In former ages there were kings in Courland j and a family 
still subsists among the peasantry, who even now retain some 
privileges, as being the descendants of those ancient monarchs. 
Mitau is its capital, built in 1270, by Conrad of Modem, 
Grand Master of the Knights of the Sword, whose family 
still exists. In 1737, on the extinction of the reigning race 
of Courish Princes, the Empress Anne of Eussia compelled 
the inhabitants of the country to accept her worthless favour- 
ite, Biren, as their prince. Of his banishment and recall, we 
have elsewhere spoken. 

The morals of the Courlanders were bad, and their laws 
tolerated their immoralities. The nobles were addicted to 
excessive debauchery, and enjoyed the most extraordinary 



232 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

privileges. The inhabitants of the towns, and the peasantry, 
were much oppressed. The latter were very ignorant and 
superstitious ; and were firm believers in the arts of sorcery. 
Some of them were even idolaters, and amid the remote solitudes 
of the forests, sacrificed animals to their gods. Education 
was much neglected. There was no institution of public in- 
struction in all Courland, in Catherine's day, except the 
Academy at Mitau. The established religion was Lutheran; 
though all sects were tolerated. The rights and usages of the 
Courish nobles resembled those of the nobility of Poland. 
They had their diets, and their private tribunals of justice on 
their respective estates. In the administration of justice, they 
were absolute among their own peasantry, and often perpe- 
trated acts of great violence and outrage in furtherance of 
the gratification of their passions of avarice, hatred, and lust. 
The great excesses perpetrated by the Grand Duke Peter, 
on his unhappy subjects, created universal discontent, and 
induced the inhabitants of the Duchy, as a last resort, to 
invoke the interposition and protection of Catherine. Her 
emissaries had indeed for some time been actively at work in 
preparing the way for this event. She had thus gained over 
the principal nobility, and especially the Counsellor Hoven, 
an eloquent, ambitious, and intriguing man. The Courish 
nobles, the principal of whom were the families of Manteufel, 
Klopman, Korf, Igelstroem, Munster, and Medem, were often 

f 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 233 

invited to St. Petersburg, where the reception which they 
received from the Empress, the distinctions, honours, and 
presents which were lavished upon them, won their attach- 
ment, and induced them to prefer the pleasures of the capital, 
to the tameness of Mitau; and induced them to continue 
under the dominion of a sovereign of so vast and splendid an 
empire, rather than to live under the control of a duke whom 
they despised and hated. 

To further her ends, Catherine filled their minds with appre- 
hensions, and threw divisions and dissensions among the 
nobility. She instigated the inhabitants of Livonia to insist 
on the performance of an ancient convention, by which the 
Courlanders were obliged to bring all their merchandise to 
Kiga. This was a singular stipulation, inasmuch as the latter 
had excellent harbours of their own, and it caused them great 
expense to transport their articles of trade to Riga. But 
Catherine, when the quarrel became ripe, sent her engineers 
into Courland to construct a canal to transport their goods into 
Livonia, and the Courlanders, seeing the determination of the 
Empress, had recourse to the only means of avoiding the 
impending evil, by asking to be incorporated into her empire, 
and thus claim her protection from the encroachments of their 
neighbours. At this stage of the matter she sent for the Duke 
of Courland to come to St. Petersburg. But no sooner had 
he arrived there, than the States of Courland held an assembly. 



234 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

The nobility proposed to place the country under the protec- 
tion of Catherine. The Counsellor Hoven spoke long in favour 
of the supremacy of Russia. The dispute became warm on 
both sides. Challenges were passed, and swords drawn, when 
the Russian general Pahlen appeared in the assembly. No 
one afterward presumed to raise any further opposition, and 
Courland became incorporated into the empire of all the 
Russias. When the Duke of Courland returned, after a 
flattering reception at Petersburg, to Mitau, he first learned 
from his own subjects, the fact that they had deprived him 
of his dominions. The Empress immediately sent a governor 
thither to take his place. The property of the few Courlanders 
who were disaffected, and opposed to the supremacy of Cathe- 
rine, was confiscated, and given to her courtiers, of which her 
favourite obtained the largest share. The Duke of Courland, 
though deprived of his dukedom, had fortunately purchased 
some estates, the jurisdiction of which consoled him for his 
losses. These were the small duchy of Sagan in Silesia, the 
domain of Rottenberg, and Fredericksfeldt in Brandenberg. 

This extraordinary woman passed with ease from the grave 
intrigues of states and parliaments, and from the vicissitudes 
of her ambitious conquests, to the incidents of her court, the 
interests of literature, and the advancement of religion. On 
the great day of the "Benediction of the Waters'' at St. 
Petersburg, Pamphilief, her confessor, by her orders invited 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 235 

to his house the ecclesiastics of all communions, and gave them 
a grand entertainment called the Dinner of Toleration. 

At these agreeable meetings, his eminence Gabriel, metro- 
politan Archbishop of Novgorod and St. Petersburg, always 
presided. Pamphilief did the honours of the table with 
that hospitality and suavity of manners for which the Rus- 
sians are so famous among all who visit their country. 
When wines of various sorts were served round on a salver, 
the before-mentioned prelate once observed, with a sensible 
allusion to the occasion : " These wines are all good ; they 
differ only in colour and taste. '^ — The persons present at one 
of these dinners, as an example of the rest, were : Gabriel, 
metropolitan ; Innocentius, Archbishop of Pscove and Riga ; 
Eugenius, Archbishop of Kherson, the famous translator of 
Virgil into Greek hexameter verse; Ivan Pamphilief, the 
Empress's confessor: all members of the holy synod. Other 
Russian clergy were : Innocentius, archimandrite, and rector 
of the gymnasium at the monastery of St. Alexander Nefsky ; 
Antonius, archimandrite at the imperial corps of noble land- 
cadets ; Basilius, protopope at the marine cadet corps ; Andrew 
Samborsky, protopope of St. Sophia, formerly chaplain to the 
embassy at London ; Nectarius, monk at the Greek gymnasium ; 
Sergius, monk at the imperial academy of arts ; Sergius 
Livitof, pope of the imperial chapel; Ivan, chaplain at the 
imperial seminary for young ladies ; Matthew, chaplain at the 



236 HISTORY OF CATHERINE IL 

artillery and engineer cadet-corps ; Basilius, chaplain at the 
imperial academy of sciences ; BasiliuS; pope of the church of 
the annunciation; Stackaeus, chaplain at the imperial noble 
land-cadet-corps ; and Joseph, deacon at the same. 

The effect produced by such an assemblage from year to 
year, in harmonizing the spirit of religious discord which 
existed among so many and such incongruous elements, was 
favourable ; and presents a pleasing feature, in contemplating 
the vast and varied interests provided for, by the compre- 
hensive mind of the Empress. 

The improvement of her capital was not the least interest- 
ing and commendable feature of her reign. She took pride in 
showing to the world, that she was capable of improving upon 
the stupendous enterprises of Peter I., by which he turned a 
wet and sandy marsh into the most gorgeous and splendid 
capital of modern Europe. Situated at the mouth of a large 
navigable river, it is exposed to frequent inundations. When 
the westerly winds blow with violence for any long period of 
time, the waters of the Neva rise to the height of ten feet 
above its ordinary level. At five feet elevation, it overflows only 
the western portion of the city, but when it reaches ten feet, 
only the eastern extremity of the city escapes. In 1777, on 
Sunday, the tenth of September, the water rose to the height 
of ten feet, seven inches above the ordinary level ; and though 
it retired again within its banks in two hours afterward, yet 



. HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 237 

this short inundation had produced singular results. A ship 
from Lubeck was carried into the wood of Vassili-Ostrof. 
The Duchess of Kingston^ whose visit to the capital we have 
elsewhere described, had her yacht much damaged, by being 
cast upon the bar. Many wooden houses were carried away, 
and many persons lost their lives during the obscurity of the 
night. 

The Empress immediately took measures to avoid the repe- 
tition of such a calamity. For several years the height of the 
v^^ater had been carefully marked at the castle. Afterward, 
whenever the river rose, its ascent was announced or indicated 
by signals, which thus apprised the inhabitants of the capital of 
their danger. Whenever it rose above its banks at the mouth 
of the Great Neva, three signal guns from the citadel informed 
them of the fact; these were repeated at intervals as the danger 
increased. The latter signal consisted of five guns from the 
admiralty battery, and on its steeple, four white flags were 
displayed, and by night, four lanterns were hung out. In places 
most exposed to the inundations, vessels were placed to rescue 
those who were in danger. These regulations, together with 
the increased buildings, the lofty and strong embankments, the 
magnificent stone quays of the Neva, and the extension of the 
surface of the water by the enlargement of the canals, rendered 
the danger from the western gales no longer terrible, as once 
they were, to the inhabitants of St. Petersburg. 



2b« HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Catherine also turned her attention to securing her capital 
from depredations Tby fire. St. Petersburg, when first built, 
contained many wooden houses. The danger from loss by fire 
was very great. The northern winds, which blew across the 
capital, rendered a fire particularly destructive in St. Peters- 
burg. To lessen the danger, she established a fire police, to 
whom she paid regular wages. Over this establishment, which 
consisted of one thousand six hundred and twenty-two men, 
were placed ten fire-masters. In consequence of this liberal 
provision of the Empress for the protection of her capital, 
calamities by fire were of rare occurrence, and when they did 
happen, they were usually in the suburbs of the city, where 
the houses were of wood and very old. The people of the fire 
police became so dexterous, that sometimes wooden houses, 
contiguous to another one on fire, received no damage whatever. 
She forbade quick driving through the streets ; though the 
peculiar construction of her capital made that usage less dan- 
gerous than elsewhere. The streets are very broad and capa- 
cious. They run in right angles and straight lines; and 
there is abundance of room for a large number of vehicles to 
pass each other. Yet, on occasions where a large number of 
equipages are collected together, the numerous soldiers or Cos- 
sacks on horseback keep order, so that accidents are rarely 
heard of. At the theatres, the court, the clubs, and especially 
at the entertainments given at the palace, and on the great 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 239 

festivals, the multitudes of people who assemble, and pass 
through the streets are immense. On the bridges which cross 
the Neva, accidents rarely occur; and at the diversions of the 
ice-hills, — an amusement peculiar to Russia, — many lives 
would he lost, were it not for the judicious regulations, which 
were made by Catherine, to govern the national sports. As 
soon as the ice begins to be porous and unsafe, care is taken 
to break it near the shore, to prevent persons from venturing 
upon it ; and notices are placed upon posts for that purpose. 
Sometimes the police will restrain the foolhardy adventurers 
among the populace, who for a wager would occasionally place 
their lives in danger. 

The solicitude of her majesty for the welfare and security 
of her subjects even extended to those laws which were neces- 
sary for the prevention of contagious diseases ; to the inspection 
of damaged goods and provisions ; and to every other precau- 
tion, suggested by wisdom and experience, for the promotion 
of the happiness of her people. 

We have thought it proper to enter even into these minute 
details, in reference to the administration of this distinguished 
woman, in order to present a faithful picture of her charac- 
ter, both as a woman and as a sovereign. Nothing is beneath 
the dignity of history, which serves to throw light upon the 
development of human character ; or to illustrate the way in 
which minds of vast and comprehensive power display their 



2^ HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

energies, when placed in circumstances propitious to their 
exercise and their development. Catherine was fortunately 
placed, partly by accident, and partly by the force of her own 
aspiring genius, in a situation so exalted, that whatever she 
did, even her most insignificant actions, secured the close at- 
tention and scrutiny of mankind. Russia owes almost as 
much to her powerful genius, as she does to that of Peter the 
Great. The latter evoked order and beauty from utter chaos. 
The former added to the beautiful handiwork of its creator, 
a finish, a refinement, and a perfection of which his own rude 
and gigantic nature was incapable. Peter the Great took the 
rugged block of marble from the great quarry of Nations, 
with all its sharp unpolished points, with all its rough excres- 
cences ; and made a statue out of it, which displayed strong 
marks of creative genius, and produced a work of bold and 
striking effect. Catherine II. applied her graceful and skilful 
hand to this rude statue ; added the final and finishing touches ; 
removed every imperfection; heightened every beauty; and 
thus left nothing undone, which human genius could achieve, 
to enhance the power, wealth, and glory of her vast empire. 



CHAPTER XYIII. 

CATHERINE AS A DIPLOMATIST. — HER RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. — HER 
MEASURES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION. — SHE ESTABLISHES 
HER LOAN BANK. — <'THE COURT OF CONSCIENCE." — HER IMPROVE- 
MENTS IN RUSSIAN JURISPRUDENCE. — COM. PAUL JONES. — THE GREEK 
REVOLUTION. — FAILURE OP THEIR REVOLT. 

Whoever carefully examines the events of Catherine's 
reign, will be struck with this marked peculiarity in her 
administration : that all her measures were progressive ; that 
she ever had in view the increased aggrandizement of her 
throne and empire j and that neither the allurements of plea- 
sure, nor the, attractions of dissipation, were allowed to inter- 
fere with this great and honourable purpose. 

This remark will be illustrated by the number of treaties 
which she established with surrounding and rival nations. It 
will appear from the fact, that wherever she did not gratify her 
ambition by the aggressions of conquest, she accomplished the 
same end by the nobler means of amity and negotiation. In 
1785, she concluded a treaty with France, which greatly pro- 
moted the commercial interests of her subjects, as well as 
increased her military defences. In the same year, she con- 

(241) 



242 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

eluded a similar treaty with the Emperor of Germany ; which 
obtained several peculiar privileges for her subjects. Among 
these was a clause granting them an exemption from all duties 
in the port of Riga. The duties on Hungarian wines vrere 
also reduced; as well as those on leather, hides, and other 
commodities. The terms of the treaty limited its duration to 
twelve years, and mutual friendship seemed established on a 
permanent basis between the two countries. Similar compacts 
were entered into by Catherine with several other European 
powers, whose commercial interests were identical with her 
own. 

Another peculiarity of her reign deserves notice and com- 
mendation. This was the spirit of religious toleration which 
ever characterized and adorned her administration. This fact 
deserves particular attention. Catherine wasjihe sovereign of 
a despotic empire. She was indeed the great representative 
of political despotism in Europe ; her throne was the strong- 
est bulwark of the absolute order of things, which had existed 
during preceding centuries. Novelties and changes might be 
introduced elsewhere : the very suggestion of an alteration 
in the fundamental principles of her government, and of all 
conservative governments in general, must needs be treason 
to her, and be utterly repugnant to her feelings and her 
measures. 

Now, intolerance in regard to religion, has ever been a 



HISTORY or CATHERINE II. 243 

characteristic of conservative governments. The throne and 
the altar have been for many ageS; the sworn supporters of 
each other ; and the blow which shatters the one, inevitably 
mars the beauty, and weakens the supremacy of the other. 
Hence it is, that the sovereigns of Europe have usually been 
the opponents of change and progress in religion, as well as in 
politics. It has also been a first principle in their creed, that 
it appertains to their sovereignty, to prescribe even the form of 
religion to be cherished and observed by their subjects. 
Accordingly, they patronize established religions ; which always 
become their own supporters, and thus confer reciprocally 
the blessings which kings bestow on them back upon 
the authors of their prosperity and influence. The Greek 
religion was, accordingly, the established religion of Russia; 
and as such, was a part of the policy, a part of the institutions, 
and a part of the government of that empire. 

Yet Catherine had formed the wise resolution, at *,he be- 
ginning of her reign, to allow the largest liberty to every form 
of religious belief which her subjects could desire, however 
repugnant their views might be to the- principles or doctrines 
established by law. Not one instance occurred, from the day 
on which she ascended the throne, until the hour of her death, 
in which a human being was called upon to suffer, even in the 
smallest degree, much less in any serious measure, for his re- 
ligious opinions. Not only did she extend this protection to 
K 



244 HISTOKY (JF CATHERINE IL 

her own hereditary dominions, but also to those territories 
which she acquired by conquest ; and in which a less generous 
and liberal toleration might have been expected. Among her 
subjects might be found, in addition to those who professed 
the Grreek religion, Calvinists, Jews, Lutherans, Moravians, 
Catholics, Mahommedans, Heathens, and various other re- 
ligious sects. The intolerant bigots of other climes, whose 
moral and intellectual pretensions were far higher and greater 
than those of the Russian autocratrix, might observe with ad- 
vantage, the provinces of Livonia, Esthonia, and Finland, and 
there receive lessons of Christian charity and forbearance. 

For this peculiarity of her administration, Catherine cer- 
tainly deserves great credit. Freedom of speech and of thought 
in religion, inevitably leads to freedom of speech and of 
thought in politics. To grant the former, might be supposed 
to endanger the security and the permanency of her throne^, 
in regard to the latter. For her conduct in this particular, 
Catherine assigned a reason which does honour at least to her 
sympathies, if not to her intellect. Sjpeaking of heretics, or 
of those who were styLed such, according to her religious be- 
lief, she once said : " Unhappy beings ! Since we know they 
are to suffer so much, and so long, in the world to come, it is 
but reasonable that we should endeavour, by all means, to 
make their situation here, as comfortable as we can.'' Indeed, 
her generosity was much greater than that of her clergy ; for 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 245 

she was once compelled to exercise all the authority of her 
sceptre to screen M. Samborsky from the fury of the monks, 
because he appeared abroad without a beard, and in the ordi- 
nary dress of an English clergyman, on his return from a resi- 
dence of several years in England. 

The same agreeable feature is presented to our view, when 
we survey the efforts made by Catherine to promote education 
among her subjects. The ignorance and debasement of the 
Eussian serfs were indeed hopeless and extreme. No power 
of a sovereign or of an autocrat, however absolute and supreme, 
could illumine minds which were so hopelessly degraded, or 
elevate and dignify characters which had, during long years 
of neglect, been stamped with inherent and radical abasement. 
But even in her administration of the interests of this peculiar 
and anomalous class of her subjects, we find much to com- 
mend; We discover there a prevailing spirit of generosity 
and of benevolence, for the countless multitudes of immortal 
beings, who, capable of an honourable and an exalted destiny, 
had been lowered by many generations of tyranny, to the level 
of the brute. 

Catherine early entertained the purpose of establishing 
houses of education throughout her dominions, for the benefit 
of the middle and higher classes of her subjects. For this 
purpose she established a Commission of Public Instruction, 
with her former favourite, Zavadosky, at its head; who with- 



246 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

out being reinstated in his former more delicate relation to the 
Empress, yet received a distinguished share of her notice; 
was ajDpointed Secretary of the Cabinet, and President of the 
Lombard, or Loan Bank. 

In addition to the welfare of religion and of literature, the 
Empress also extended her cares to promoting the financial 
interests of her subjects. She did this more particularly, by 
the establishment of the ^^ Loan i^a?i7.;," which we have just 
named. This was a peculiar institution, and deserves a more 
particular mention than we have yet given it. 

In general, monarchs are eager to borrow from their subjects. 
Catherine, peculiar and original in everything, reversed the 
usual order of things ; and instead of borrowing money from 
her subjects, so arranged it, that her subjects borrowed money 
from her. She became the great money-lender of the empire. 
She established a bank on this principle, possessing a capital 
of thirty-three millions of rubles ; and empowered to issue bills 
possessing the currency of money, to the amount of a hun- 
dred millions more. Of the fund thus invested, twenty-two 
millions of rubles were to be lent to the nobility, for twenty 
years, on mortgage on their estates, at an interest of five per 
cent. Their estates were not to be subject to confiscation ; 
but heavy pecuniary penalties were to arise upon any neglect 
to pay the interest which accrued. At four successive periods, 
during the term of twenty years, the mortgagors might redeem 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 247 

their estates, by paying both the principal and the interest 
which were due. 

The remaining eleven millions of rubles of the principal of 
this Imperial Bank, were devoted to the encouragement, both 
of foreign and domestic commerce, and of the internal trade 
of the empire, by being loaned in smaller sums to merchants 
and retail dealers. The bank also operated as an Insurance 
Company from losses by fire. All foreigners as well as all 
Russians, were allowed to deposit their funds in this bank ; 
and to have the sovereign's word and credit pledged -for their 
security. 

In the commission established by Catherine to conduct the 
normal schools, there were associated with Zavadosky, the 
learned ^pinus, who had been preceptor to Paul Petrovitch ; 
a man distinguished alike by his learning and his virtues; and 
Pastukof, the private secretary of the Empress, and another, 
of the preceptors of the Grrand Duke. By the sagacious ad- 
vice of -^pinus, the Austrian method of instruction was intro- 
duced into the normal schools, as being best adapted to the 
wants of the Russian people. To accomplish this purpose the 
better, Joseph II. sent Yankovitch to St. Petersburg, at Cathe- 
rine's request, to aid in establishing her schools according to 
the Austrian system. But this aged bigot was incapable of 
entering into the enlarged views of uEpinus ; and eventually 



248 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

became a great obstacle in the way of accomplisbing his judi- 
cious plans. 

The Habeas Corpus Act has long been the pride of British 
legislation, and the cherished privilege of British subjects. 
Catherine deserves the high honour of having introduced into 
the Russian jurisprudence a proceeding which, in a similar de- 
gree, secured the liberty and promoted the happiness of her 
own subjects. 

She established in every province of the empire, a peculiar 
tribunal, called the Court of Conscience) whose object was 
the preservation of personal security, the mitigation of the con- 
dition of unhapp}'- criminals, and the equitable termination of 
all civil disputes. This court consisted of a Judge who pre- 
sided, and of six associates, two of whom, -every three years, 
were chosen from the class of burghers, and two from the class 
of boors. Each rank had jurisdiction only over the accuser and 
the accused belonging to its own order. The rule, or princi- 
ple, which governed the decisions of this court, was a strict 
construction of the laws; and where these failed to reach the 
particular wants of any case, the exercise of a wise discretion 
was allowed the judges, that they might invoke the aid. of 
equity, where the letter of the law was deficient or imperfect. 

This court had no authority to interfere in any matter by 
its own motion. It could only take cognisance of cases which 
were brought under its notice by the direct petition or com- 



HISTORY OF CATHEKINE 11. 249 

plaint of the aggrieved subject; or by an order from the 
government j or by the direction of a higher and superior 
tribunal. The cases of all such criminals as had fallen into 
guilt by some unfortunate accident or influence ; those whose 
punishment far outweighed their actual turpitude ; all the 
crimes of youth and indiscretion ; all cases of witchcraft and 
conjuration ; all instances of punishment arising from stupidity, 
imposition, and persecution, belonged to this tribunal. In all 
cases of civil dispute or litigation, that court recommended 
their settlement without the expense of legal process, by a 
reference to arbitrators, chosen by the parties. If the arbi- 
trators could not agree, the court ordered the accuser and the 
accused, the plaintiff and the defendant, to appear before them : 
it examined aU the facts and merits of the case, and made its 
decision. If the parties refused to submit to that decision, 
they were referred, by the payment of costs, to the regular 
courts of law. ' 

But the peculiar merit of this court was that prerogative, 
which rendered it the great protector of personal liberty. 
When any one sent in a petition to that court, declaring that 
he^had been detained in prison upward of three days, and 
that, during this period, the cause of his detention, and the 
crime laid to his charge, had not been made known to him ; 
or that during this time he has had no primary hearing what- 
ever; then the Court of Conscience was bound to issue an 



250 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

order, that he he immediately brought iuto court, and be 
shown the reasons why he had been imprisoned, and why he 
had received no hearing. If this process was not attended to 
within twenty-four hours, after the request of the defendant 
was made, the president of the court was subject to a fine of 
five hundred rubles, and each of the associates to a fine of one 
hundred. If the Court of Conscience discovered that the 
prisoner had not been arrested upon a charge of treason, 
murder, robbery, or theft, it issued an order to set him at 
liberty, on security being given, or bail entered, that he would 
appear to answer the charge made against him, in the proper 
and appropriate court. No one could presume to arrest him 
again in another court on the same charge, after being once 
released by the Court of Conscience. In this respect, there 
was no clashing of the jurisdiction of the Court of Conscience 
or Equity, and that of the Courts of Law. The acts of each 
were recognised as final and authoiTitative. 

This provision of Russian jurisprudence, which so nearly 
resembled in its beneficial results, the operation of the Habeas 
Corpus Act, was due alone to the enlightened sagacity and 
benevolence of Catherine ; nor can we, by any possibility, ap- 
preciate the incalculable amount of good which was effected 
by it, in a land of absolute and corrupt nobles, and of wealthy 
and irresponsible proprietors, who had long been accustomed 



HISTORY OV CATHERINE II. 251 

to exercise their petty tyranny over the lives, the fortunes, 
and the liberty of unhappy millions. 

In 1788, an incident occurred in the history of Catherine's 
hostile preparations against Turkey, which is not devoid of 
interest to American readers. In the Russian fleet, there had 
long been a scarcity of native officers possessed of the ability 
and experience requisite to conduct the operations of the navy 
of the Empress with success. As far as possible, Catherine 
supplied this deficiency by the use of foreigners; and the ter- 
mination of the American Kevolutionary war, which occurred 
previous to this period, affijrded a considerable supply of young 
English and American officers ; who, unable to endure a life 
of inactivity, were willing and eager to enter into any honoura- 
ble service. 

These men were valuable accessions to Russia. Foreign 
adventurers of this class then swarmed to the Russian capital. 
Of this number was the celebrated American hero, Paul Jones, 
who rendered such essential service to the cause of human 
freedom, by his valour on the high seas, during that celebrated 
struggle. He was gladly received at the court of St. Peters- 
burg. He was immediately appointed to an important com- 
mand in the grand fleet, which was under equipment at Cron- 
stadt. The English officers, many of whom had already en- 
listed in the Russian service, considered this appointment as 
the highest indignity which could be put upon them. Thirty 



252 HlSTOilY OF CATHERINE II. 

of them; accordingly, -went in a body, and regardless of the 
losses which they thereby incurred, laid down their commis- 
sions ; declared that they could not, under any circumstances, 
degrade themselves to serve with a pirate and a renegade ; and 
demanded that Paul Jones should either be dismissed from his 
appointment, or their resignations be accepted. 

Nothing could have been more embarrassing, just at this 
period, to Catherine, than this course of conduct, pursued by 
so many of the most valuable officers in her service. "Yet that 
course was nothing less than a marked insult to the Kussian 
sovereign. It was setting up the punctilios of honour, in oppo- 
sition to the prerogatives of imperial command; for Paul 
Jones occupied his position in consequence of the express order 
and approval of the Empress. Any submission by her, to such 
an unheard of invasion of her supremacy, would be a grievous 
degradation of her dignity; and would beside, be setting a 
most dangerous and troublesome precedent to her own subjects. 
It was indeed fortunate that these recusant officers were not 
the subjects of some insignificant government, who could not 
have avenged their punishment, else they would have paid the 
forfeit of their arrogance with their lives. It was also well 
for them that this conduct had not occurred in time of peace, 
when their services could be dispensed with. As it was, the 
pressing necessity of the times prevailed. The appointment 
of Paul Jones to a command in the Cronstadt fleet, was re- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 253 

called; but be received au boiiourable eqiuvalent in being 
appointed second ia command to tbe Prince of Nassau, in 
tbe Kussian armament on tbe Euxine, But tbe inveterate 
bostility of bis enemies did not cease bere. Tbey raised a 
rejDort of an unusually scandalous cbaracter, respecting bim 
and a girl of St. Petersburg; tbe odium of wbicb finally in- 
duced bim to cjuit for ever tbe E-ussian territories. He tbence 
went to Paris, wbere be became distinguisbed among tbe lead- 
ers of tbe Frencb Democrats or Radicals, wbo tben possessed 
tbe belm of affairs, in- tbat city. Tbere be sbortly afterward 
died ; and bis remains were attended to tbe grave by a depu- 
tation of tbe National Convention. But tbe conduct of tbe 
Britisb officers, on tbis occasion, does little credit to tbeir cba- 
racter or tbeir memory, in tbus insulting a man wbose only 
fault was, tbat be bad been a victorious cbampion of liberty, 
and able opponent of Britisb tyranny. 

We sbould do signal injustice to tbe memory of tbis great 
Empress, did we not present a sbort account of tbe events 
wbicb connect ber reign witb tbe immortal name of Greece. 

Previous to tbe year 1790, tbe Greeks bad made several 
strenuous efforts to release tbem selves from tbe bated burden 
of Turkisb tyranny. Tbese exertions had all been unavailing, 
and tbe descendants of Miltiades and Tbemistocles still groaned 
under a yoke, far more degrading tban tbat of Persian bond- 
age. Tbe Turks exhausted upon them every species of cruelty 



254 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

which the imagination can conceive, or unhappy men could 
endure. The Greeks were eager for revenge. They suspected 
the ambitious designs of Catherine in reference to the sove- 
reignty of Constantinople; and they determined to send a 
commission to St. Petersburg, to treat with her on the subject. 
On her part, she distributed manifestoes throughout all the 
Grecian isles, inviting the\G reeks to take up arms, and unite 
with her, in support of their common religion, and in defiance 
of their common eneiuy. 

Soltire, a Greek distinguished in the service of Russia, 
was sent to Epirus in Albania, for the purpose of preparing 
the chief men of that region for a speedy insurrection. An 
army was soon assembled in the neighbourhood of that city, 
which marched to attack the Pasha of Yanina, whom they 
defeated in a pitched battle ; killed his son and heir during 
the engagement; and sent his brilliant armour as a trophy to 
the Empress. Encouraged by this success, and the assistance 
of Catherine, the Greeks now fitted out at Trieste twelve 
small vessels, and placed them under the command of Canzi- 
ani, an intrepid seamen of their own nation. Constantinople 
was filled with consternation, as the news was wafted up the 
Archipelago, that the Grecian armament was approaching the 
city of the Csesars. Orders were given to all the Turkish 
ships in the Euxine, to repass the Bosphorus, to stop the pro- 
gress of the invading force. In the mean time, Catherine 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 255 

sent them supplies of money and ammunition, and despatched 
her emissaries to remove the obstacles to the triumph of 
the Greeks, which the sordid jealousy of the Venetians 
had thrown in their way. But the emissaries of the Empress 
were unhappily dishonest and unprincipled ; and appropriated 
to themselves; the sums which she had destined for another 
and a nobler purpose. 

Exasperated at this conduct, the Grreeks sent a deputation 
to St. Petersburg to make their statements and complaints to 
the Empress. At first they endeavoured in vain to obtain an 
audience. Some of those strong influences were at work, 
which so often shut out from the ears of sovereigns, those 
complaints which it were well for themselves and for their 
subjects, that they oftener heard and obeyed. But at last, by 
means of the favourite Zubof, they obtained a private audience 
of the Empress, and presented her a memorial, in Greek and 
in French, setting forth their grievances, and the objects of 
their mission. After asking for the assistance which they so 
much needed, they proceeded in eloquent language to urge 
upon Catherine the fulfilment of her magnificent projects of 
conquest and aggrandisement. Said they : " Our splendid 
ruins, and the monuments of the ancient prosperity of Greece, 
proclaim our pristine grandeur. Our innumerable seaports, our 
beautiful country, the sky serenely smiling on us throughout 
the year, the bravery of our noble youths, and the heroism of 



256 niSTOilT OF CATHERINE II. 

our nobler women, all attest that G-recian valour and heroism 
have not become extinct, by the long lapse of ages ; — we are 
still the Grreeks of our forefathers. Give us your grandson' 
Constantino as our sovereign. It is the wish of our nation 
that he should be our King ; and we will be his faithful sub- 
jects, and the subjects of your Majesty.'' 

Catherine heard the memorial of the Grecian emissaries 
with attention and respect. From the presence chamber, they 
were conducted to the apartments of her grandson Constan- 
tine. They there presented their homage to the young Prince, 
and explained to him in Greek the object of their mission, 
and styled him their Emperor. He answered them in the 
same language, which he had doubtless been taught with 
reference to the exigencies of his future destiny, and said : 
^^ Go, and let everything be done according to your wishes." 
They received from Catherine the means of increasing their 
naval forces, already under the command of Canziani, together 
with cannon and engineers. They returned to Sulli, then the 
residence of their congress, whence they kept up a correspond- 
ence with all Greece. 

The Greeks now entertained splendid hopes. They ex- 
pected to raise an army of one hundred thousand men ; and 
with these, together with the auxiliary Russian forces, to march 
at once upon Constantinople ; to punish by one fell and all- 
destroying act of vengeance, the wrongs, the cruelties, the in- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 257 

calculable curses which the Turks had during previous genera- 
tions inflicted upon them; and for ever banish the Ottoman 
power from the confines of Europe. These brilliant hopes, and 
this glorious revenge, might indeed have been the portion of the 
descendants of the heroes of Marathon, had it not been for the 
sudden operation of several unfavourable causes. 

The first of. these causes was the assembling of a hundred 
and fifty thousand Prussians on the frontiers of Bohemia ; next, - 
the signing of the treaty between Austria and Prussia at 
Reichenbach ; and lastly, the hostile feelings exhibited by the 
court of London toward that of St. Petersburg. All these 
changes in the political word, compelled Kussia to husband 
her resources for her own defence ; and to keep herself in 
readiness to meet any attacks which might be made upon her, 
by any of the powerful enemies by whom she was surrounded. 
She was unable at that time, to detach any of her resources 
from the protection of her own interests, to the defence of 
that of others. 

Catherine II., taking this sagacious view of things, was con- 
strained 1o advise her Greek allies to keep themselves in readi- 
ness for future action, but to undertake nothing further at 
that time (1791), or until a more favourable opportunity for 
action presented itself. Thus ended, without the attainment 
of any important result, the interest and the interference of 
the Empress in the affairs of Grreece ; — of that land whose 



258 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

brilliant genius, in ancient days, had been the admiration and 
wonder of so many ages ; and whose subsequent degradation 
and sufferings had been the subject of so much pity and in- 
dignation. It was reserved, in the decrees of Fate, for the 
heroes of a later period, to achieve for Greece that freedom, 
of which her classic soil is the natural birth-place, and most 
congenial home. There was something striking in the associa- 
tion of ideas presented to the mind, by this proposed offensive 
alliance between Greece and Russia; between the outraged 
children of Freedom, and the great representative of Despotism. 
The true secret of Catherine's temporary interest in the liberty 
and deliverance of Greece from the Ottoman power, was doubt- 
less to be found in the fact, not that she loved Greece and 
freedom well, but that she hated the Turkish dominion and 
empire more. Had she achieved the independence of the 
Greeks, she would doubtless have rolled on the mighty tide 
of her conquests to the gates of Constantinople. That tide 
would have submerged beneath its waves her gorgeous palaces 
and citadels, and the whole eastern empire of the Caesars. 
Nor would that flood have receded, in its stupendous sweep, 
until both Greece and Turkey, both Athens and Constantinople, 
had acknowledged the supremacy of the great Russian sove- 
reign, thus become the mighty and undisputed monarch of a 
continent. Then perhaps, her ambition had been satiated, and 
her grasping spirit been at rest ; — ^but not till then I 



CHAPTER XIX. 

FINAL DISMEMBERMENT OF POLAND RESOLVED UPON BY CATHERINE 
AND HER COURTIERS. — THE KING OF PRUSSIA UNITES WITH CATHE- 
RINE IN THIS PROJECT. — POLISH STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. — KOS- 
CIUSKO. — HEROIC BUT FUTILE STRUGGLES OF THE POLES. — KOS- 
CIUSKO DEFENDS WARSAW. — HE IS TAKEN PRISONER. — SENT TO ST. 
PETERSBURG.— ASSASSINATION OF GUSTAVUS III. OF SWEDEN. — DEATH 
OF JOSEPH II. OF AUSTRIA. — CATHERINE DETERMINES ON HER FINAL 
INVASION OF TURKEY AND ASSAULT OF CONSTANTINOPLE. — HER SUD- 
DEN DEATH. — THE GRAND DUKE SUCCEEDS TO THE RUSSIAN THRONE. 
— EXAMINATION OF CATHERINE'S CHARACTER AND MERITS. 

In January, 1792, tlie imperial Catherine, softly reclining 
in the gilded boudoir of her palace, was engaged in a private 
conference respecting high matters of state, with her favourite 
Zuhof, and his political Mentor, Markof. The favouriue, since 
the departure of Potempkin, had suddenly aspired to the di- 
rection of political affairs ; he would he a statesman as well as 
a lover. This Markof was his confidant and flatterer, and from 
«>ccupying that position toward the favourite, he soon came to 
occupy it toward the Empress. 

At the meeting in question, the subject of discussion was a 
delicate one. It was none other than the final and complete dis- 
memberment of Poland,— the chivalrous laud of Sobieski and 

(259) 



260 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

Kosciusko ; so that the most execrable deed recorded in the politi- 
cal annals of the world, owes its origin, and had its birth-place, 
amid the soft dalliance which adorned, or disgraced, the chosen 
retreats of imperial love and feminine affection. There, sur- 
rounded by every luxury which the fertile fancy and exquisite 
taste of courtiers can devise, these favourites of fortune coolty de- 
termined upon the destruction of the liberties and dearest rights 
of millions of their fellow-creatures ; knowing perfectly well, 
that they possessed the means of executing, on the devastated 
plains of Poland, the infamous purposes which they might have 
decreed, amid the splendours of the imperial palace in St. 
Petersburg ; and that their vainest caprices would be rigidly 
fulfilled, though it should cost the blood and the tears of un- 
happy and ruined thousands of their fellow-men. 

Little cared they however, for the consequences which might 
ensue upon their decrees, provided their ambition and their 
avarice were gratified, and the spoils of a desolated land 
strewed around their path. At this period, the Poles might 
have brought into the field an effective army of fifty thousand 
men, had not their leaders been unfortunately divided among 
themselves, as for previous generations they had ever been, to 
the great injury of the interests of their country. 

The sovereigns of Russia and Prussia were not without a 
specious pretext for their conduct. In the manifesto which 
she published at the time, Catherine says : ^' Her Imperiaf 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 261 

Majesty hatli hitherto taken, in the affairs of Poland, a part 
that has always been tending to the interest of both kingdoms 
Her efforts to maintain peace among the Poles have been una- 
vailing. Thirty years of experience has evinced this, in the 
numerous internal disputes which have distracted the Polish 
Republic. She ha« viewed their sufferings with compassion, 
considering them as descended from the same race, and pro- 
fessing the same hoiy Ohi-istian religion, — her Imperial Ma- 
jesty intends to place them upon an equality with the Rus- 
sians, and she expects in return, their gratitude and obe- 
dience." 

Meanwhile Catherine was maturing her plans, as well by 
negotiation and intrigue, as by the force of arms. She secretly 
won over Felix Potocky, and many others of the leading Poles. 
She insisted that the king, Stanislaus Augustus, should as- 
sert, by a public proclamation, that the interests of Poland 
required that she should become fully incorporated with the 
Russian empire. To this disgraceful necessity Stanislaus was 
forced to submit. After the dismemberment of Poland, and 
the destruction of his throne, he retired first to Grrodno, and 
afterward to St. Petersburg, where he died in February, 1798. 
He was invited to the Russian capital by the Emperor Paul, 
after the death of Catherine. There, the palace of Oriof was 
assigned him as a residence, and he subsisted in considerable 
splendour, upon a pension granted him by that sovereign. As 



2(52 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

Catherine had placed him upon a throne, which he had never 
deserved or adorned, so also the same imperial hand now tore 
off his diadem and reduced him to his original insignificance. 
Kosciusko was recalled from Italy to be placed at the 
head of the Polish troops, destined for the defence of his 
country. We shall not go into the details connected with 
that heroic struggle, which has immortalized his name to 
eternal ages, as one of the noblest champions of human liberty. 
The Russian troops were led on by that sanguinary veteran, 
Suwarrof ; who afterward became still more illustrious from 
his struggles against Napoleon. Suffice it to say, that Prague 
was assaulted and taken ; and twenty thousand of its inhabit- 
ants fell victims to the fury of the conquerors. Other fierce 
and bloody conflicts occurred with the invaders, in which hero- 
ism and valour were compelled to yield to the power of over- 
whelming superiority in numbers. Sarmatia yielded at length, 
and her honoured and chivalrous name was blotted out for 
ever from the roll of nations. - 

Hope for a season bade the world farewell, 
And freedom shrieked, as Kosciusko fell ! 

The Polish hero, with several of his most distinguished and 
resolute supporters, were taken captive and sent to St. Peters- 
burg in chains, and a cruel and bloody revenge was inflicted 
upon thousands of Polish patriots who had risked and sacri- 
ficed their all, for the attainment of their country's freedom. 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 263 

The year 1794 was signalized by the assassination of 
Catherine's old ally and rival, Gustavus the Third of Sweden. 
He had rendered himself immensely unpopular throughout his 
dominions ; and three young men resolved to relieve the world 
of his hated presence. They drew lots for the infamous 
honour of making the first attack upon his person. A mas- 
querade was chosen for the execution of their plot. Ankar- 
stroem, upon whom the lot had fallen, seized the moment when 
a group of masks surrounded the doomed sovereign, and dis- 
charged a pistol into the small of his back. He expired in 
great agony, several days afterward, and was succeeded by his 
son Gustavus, aged fourteen ; while the regency of the young 
prince was intrusted to the Duke of Sudermania. 

About the same time, another royal friend and ally of 
Catherine descended to his grave. This was Leopold, the 
Emperor of Germany, who died as suddenly, but with circum- 
stances of less horror, at Vienna. He was succeeded by his 
son, Francis II. While these events were transpiring in the 
ancient seats of European despotism, an event of the most 
startling interest had burst upon the world, in the west of 
Europe ; which threatened to shatter all the existing thrones 
and monarchies to their base, and gave a new aspect to the 
whole history of human affairs. This event was the French 
Revolution, which at its outbreak, so highly aroused the hopes 
of the friends of freedom ; but which, by its horrid and san- 



264 HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. 

guinary excesses, at length excited tlie disgust and contempt 
of every rational observer. Russia, the most powerful, as well 
as the most distant representative of feudal despotism, re- 
mained unmoved and unshaken by this memorable outburst 
of popular power. Catherine contented herself with recalling 
her ambassador from Paris, and with ceasing to have any di- 
plomatic or commercial relations whatever with a people, 
whose principles and whose excesses she so much detested. 
She also refused admission to her court to M. Genet, the 
French charge d' affairs at St. Petersburg, and prohibited her 
ministers from having any intercourse with him. By these 
harmless measures she proclaimed to the world her detestation 
of French principles, without bringing upoii herself the charge 
of cruelty or of sanguinary measures. 

The family of the favourite Zubof was now all-powerful in 
the court of Catherine. His father was the vice-governor of 
a province, with a salary of sixty thousand rubles. Nicholas, 
his oldest son, was distinguished for his bravery in Poland, 
and married the daughter of Marshal Suwarrof. Valerian 
Zubof held a high military command in the Russian army 
under the Empress. The sister of the favourite, a lady re- 
markable for her beauty and her gallantry, was married to the 
chamberlain Zerebzof. She was also distinguished for her 
benevolence; and it is recorded of her, that she frequently 
neglected an assignation with a lover, in order to go and re- 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE 11. '265 

lieve tlie distressed. She liad considerable influence over the 
Empress, and was as much esteemed for her amiability as she 
was admired for her accomplishiiients. Her charms made a 
violent conquest of the aged and opulent Dimidof, one of 
Catherine's courtiers, and notwithstanding the immense diff'er- 
ence of their ages, she consented to receive his presents, and 
reward his devotion. 

About this time Catherine entered into a new treaty with 
England, while she published two edicts prohibiting the im- 
portation of French merchandise into her kingdom. This 
was a double victory for the English ; for while it. promoted 
their commercial interests, it at the same time humbled the 
fanatics who held Paris in anarchy, who hated the stability of 
the English throne, and the prosperity of the British nation. 

In 1796, Catherine was gratified with the prospect of a 
matrimonial alliance between the youthful King of Sweden, 
and her granddaughter, the Duchess Alexandra. This Prince 
had been betrothed to the Princess of Mecklenburg; but 
Catherine, with her usual ability, found means to break the 
match. She then invited the Swedish monarch to visit St. 
Petersburg, where he was received with regal splendour, and 
was soon smitten with the charms of the G-rand Duchess. 
Proposals of marriage were made and accepted. A day was 
fixed for the celebration of the nuptials. But when the con- 
tract was presented to the King for his signature, he observed , 



266 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

that the fundamental laws*of Sweden obliged him to require 
that the Princess should previously change her religion. 
Catherine at first had recourse to flattery and solicitation. 
But perceiving that these had no effect, she abruptly rose up 
and retired. She was followed by her son the Grand Duke, 
the Grand Duchess, and their children. On the next day 
Gustavus and his retinue quitted St. Petersburg. Nothing 
further was afterward heard concerning the alliance between 
the thrones of Sweden and Russia, which it was supposed, 
would vastly- promote the interests of both nations. 

To the latest year of her life, Catherine had not resigned 
the magnificent project, which through all her career had 
flattered her ambition, and was regarded as the crowning tri- 
umph of her glory. This was the expulsion of the Turks 
from Europe; the capture of Constantinople; and the elevation 
of her grandson Constantino, to the Ottoman throne. This 
indeed was an enterprise worthy of her aspirations and of her 
fame. The new treaty which she had just concluded with 
England, secured to her the assistance of that power in the 
furtherance of that stupendous project. Her imagination was 
excited by the magnificent conception of enlarging her empire far 
beyond that of even the ancient Caesars. Her dominions should 
far exceed in magnitude and grandeur, those of Charlemagne 
himself. Her vast realms would then extend from the Gulf 
of Bothnia on the north, to the Thracian Bosphorus on the 



HISTOHY OF CATHERINE IL 267 

south, from the Vistula on the wQgt, to the Sea of Japan on 
the east. "" 

But alas for the vanity of human hopes, smd the certainty 
of imperial aspirations ! While contemplating the fulfilment 
of this magnificent purpose, the aspiring Empress heard the 
sudden voice of that remorseless monitor, who summons hence 
alike, the peasant and the prince, the monarch and the slave. 
On the morning of the sixth of November, 1796, Catherine 
arose in good health, and took her coffee as usual. Some time 
after this she retired to her closet. After remaining there a 
full half-hour, the women who waited upon her were sur- 
prised that she did not return. They began to be alarmed. 
They at length ventured to enter the apartment in which the 
Empress was, and they there found her stretched on the par- 
quet, with her feet against the door. She was speechless, A 
messenger was immediately despatched to Pr, John Kogerson, 
her Majesty's chief physician. He supposed jt to be an attack 
of apoplexy, and ordered her to be twice bled. This being 
done, she appeared to be somewhat relieved^ but she remained 
unable to articulate. At ten o'clock in the evening of the 
succeeding day, her imperial spirit bade the world adieu. 

As soon as the danger of the Empress was known, a mes- 
senger was despatched for the Grand Duke, who was then at 
his country palace. He immediately repaired to St. Peters- 
burg, and at the moment of his mother's death, was pro- 
L 



268 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

claimed Emperor of all the Russias, under the title of 
Paul I. 

The funeral obsequies of the dead Empress were celebrated 
with appropriate pomp. Eut during their progress was enacted 
one of the most singular scenes recorded in the history of 
kings. After the lapse of thirty-five years, the tomb of the 
unfortunate Peter III. was opened by the order of the new 
monarch. ' On the coffin of that prince he placed the imperial 
crown, for which he had expressly sent to Moscow. The 
coffin was then laid in state, by the side of that of his victori- 
ous queen, with a true-love-knot reaching from the one to the 
other, and with these words inscribed upon it : ^^ Divided in life 
— united in death !" Two of the murderers of the Prince 
still survived ; Alexius Orlof, and Prince Baratinsky. By the 
ord-ers of Paul, they were present at the funeral, and stood 
during the ceremony of three hours' duration, as chief mourn- 
ers, one on each side of the coffin of their unhappy victim. 
The eyes ofcnnumerable spectators were fixed upon them. 
They there gazed for the last time, upon the mouldering 
features of him whom they had so deeply wronged and ruined. 
Alexius Orlof, possessing gi-eat vigour of frame^ exhibited no 
emotion. Baratinsky at length became overwhelmed with 
grief, and would have fainted, had not strong stimulants been 
applied to resuscitate him. This strange exhibition was uni- 
versally ascribed to the abhorrence entertained by the new 



HISTOKY OF CATHEillNE II. 269 

sovereign, of the bloody deed which had consigned his father 
to a premature grave. All St. Petersburg was struck with the 
awful sight, and feeling its justice and propriety, fully expected 
that some more signal punishment would now alight upon the 
assassins. But the vengeance of Paul went no further, and 
they escaped. 

Paul secured possession of his throne without opposition, 
and with the hearty sympathy of his innumerable subjects. 
His inheritance, in consequence of the successful ambition of 
his predecessors, was greater far than had ever before fallen 
to tRe lot of the Muscovite sovereigns. The succession of 
the throne has remained ever since uninterruptedly in the 
possession of his descendants; and sanguinary scenes of 
violence and murder no longer disgrace the annals of the 
imperial family. . 

Before taking leave of the subject of our history, it will be 
our duty — though by no means an easy one — to estimate the 
character of the Princess who has engaged our attention, and 
designate what place she deserves to occupy among that great 
throng of heroes, whose deeds have adorned, or disgraced, the 
annals of human history. 

That Catherine possessed great talents no discerning person 
will deny. Hers was a powerful, a masculine mind ; keen, 
sagacious and comprehensive. There was one attribute which 
characterized her actions, which is always an indication of a 



270 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

superior inteHect : — a boldness of movement, and a vastness 
of proportion in her conceptionsj wliicli have ever been 
peculiar to master spirits, — to Alexander, to Frederic the 
Grreat, to Napoleon. When for instance she purposed to 
effect a revolution, she struck fearlessly and desperately at the 
consecrated head of him, who sat upon the pinnacle of power. 
When she aspired to conquest, she grasped at least a king- 
dom ; and menaced more than once, the mighty capital of the 
Constantines. When we consider the munificence of her 
generosity; how she presented to her favourites palaces and 
provinces, with the same facility with which other sovereigns 
give away swords and commissions ; when we contemplate her 
resolution in vanquishing the obstacles of physical nature, in 
moving stupendous masses of rock from their immemorial 
beds, to grace the seats of civilization and refinement; we 
must reverence that powerful genius, which could in every- 
thing, be so resolute and so unconquerable. 

Catherine possessed a mind, whose comprehensiveness ren- 
dered her perfectly at home, in every department of her com- 
plicated duty, as the legislator and administrator of the 
interests of an immense and heterogeneous empire. From 
her magnificent palace on the banks of the Neva, surrounded 
by her brilliant court and capital, her eagle eye ranged abroad 
over one-half of Europe and of Asia ; her minute cares ex- 
tended to the wants of the uncounted multitudes, who looked 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 271 

up to her as their great protectress and friend ; and the winds 
of Tartary from the one continent, and the breezes of Poland 
fjom the other, as they fanned her imperial brow, wafted to 
her ears the praises of the grateful millions over whom her 
jurisdiction extended, and for whose good her cares were ever 
active and vigilant. 

And yet, combined with all this grandeur and sublimity of 
character, how feminine, how tender, how susceptible to every 
affectionate and endearing emotion of woman's heart, was she ! 
It is true, she was accessary to her husband's death. But 
that husband had brutally insulted her 3 had resolved to ex- 
clude her from the throne ; to repudiate her son ; and to con- 
sign her to infamy, perhaps to death. It was the dictate of 
the inexorable law of self-preservation, that he should die; 
that the weaker should be crushed by the stronger ; and he 
fell a victim to his unhappy and inevitable destiny. But to 
those who loved and respected her ; and especially to those 
for whom she felt that most powerful of all emotions — sexual 
attachment — how devoted and how intense were her feelings ; 
how great and how munificent were her sacrifices ; — perhaps 
indeed, without a parallel, even in the wondrous annals of 
womap's love. She was doubtless ambitious; and to that 
passion is to be ascribed the partition of Poland, and her other 
deeds of conquest and aggression. But ambition has ever been 
the weakness of the noblest minds ; and seems to be an insepa- 



272 HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 

rable accompaniment of their other exalted qualities. That 
/^she was crafty and artful cannot be denied. But she had been 
taught from her earliest youth, that policy was the safest 
guide for the actions of sovereigns ; and the difficult and peril- 
ous circumstances in which she was often placed, compelled 
her to resort sometimes to means which alone would have suc- 
ceeded, when every ingenuous effort must have failed.* — In 
a word, after calmly surveying all her merits and her de- 
merits, and taking into impartial view the peculiar circum- 
stances of peril, of temptation, and of difficulty by which she 
was surrounded, we think that the most rigid censor of human 
conduct, and of human weakness, must freely ascribe to her 
every element of female greatness, excepting female virtue. 
She has long since passed away from the scenes of her toils 
and her successes ; no more shall her active spirit love or 
hate ; no more shall her genius bless or curse mankind. The 
voice of honour cannot now awake her silent dust, nor words 
of flattery soothe " the dull, cold ear of death.^^ But let us be 

* Yet the greatest stain -which is affixed to the character of Cathe- 
rine is that, as the correspondent of Voltaire, Frederic the Great, 
Diderot, and the French infidels, she partook of their infidel sen- 
timents, and in private, made a jest of that inspired religion, whose 
services, from motives of policy, she publicly observed with hypocriti- 
cal respect. Partaking of the sentiments of these men, she was, like 
them, in reference to political afi"airs, hollow-hearted, unscrupulous, 
and governed only by ambition and interest, without much regard 
either to justice, honour, or probity ^ 



HISTORY OF CATHERINE II. 273 

just, and even generous, to tKe departed. Surely hers was 
a noble existence of high aspiration and splendid triumph. 
Hers was a colossal and original character, exhibiting indeed 
some evil, but possessing far ^ater good, which liberal and 
enlightened men, of every clime and every age, will contem- 
plate with feelings of admiration. They will at least entertain 
respect for the vigour of her genius, and honour her for the 
brilliant achievements of her reign. 



CHAPTER XX. 

BRIEF SURVEY OF THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 

ACCESSION OF PAUL I. HIS ECCENTRICITIES. HIS FAMILY. HIS ASSASSINA- 
TION. ALEXANDER L ASCENDS THE THRONE. ^HIS CHARACTER. ^HIS CON- 
NECTION WITH NAPOLEON. HIS DEATH ^THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE. 

ACCESSION OF NICHOLAS I. HIS CHARACTER AND AMBITIOUS AIMS. THE 

CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE. ^THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA. DEATH OF 

NICHOLAS. ACCESSION OF ALEXANDER II. HIS CHARACTEB. — -OTHER MEM- 
BERS OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY. CONCLUSION. 

The terrific shriek which the mighty Catherine uttered, and 
which resounded through the sumptuous halls of her palace, 
in the moment of her expiring agony, was the voice which 
proclaimed her unfortunate son, Paul, the Emperor of all the 
Russias. Had she been able to speak, during the long trance 
in which she lay previous to her death, it is probable that Paul 
had never ascended the throne ; but that she would have de- 
signated her grandson, and favorite, the Grand Duke Alexan- 
der, as his immediate successor. 

During her earlier years, Paul I. had exhibited many ad- 
mirable traits of character. He displayed good sense, activity 
of mind, a fondness for learning, and a love of order and jus- 
tice. Nearly all these qualities, however, were crushed and 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 275 

obliterated by the long system of persecution which he un 
derwent at the hands of his mother. It has been supposed, 
that her unceasing prejudice against him, was an unanswerable 
proof that he was was the son of her hated and murdered hus- 
band, Peter III. ; and that he was not a Finnish foundling, as 
some have asserted. During the many years of his mother's 
reign, she kept hfan at a distance from her person ; she exposod 
him to every kind of humiliation ; and compelled him con- 
stantly to live in retirement, insignificance and even want. 

At the age of forty-two, he was called to the throne ; and 
he immediately displayed such excellent qualities, as to excite 
the astonishment, and elicit the acclamations of his subjects. 
He abstained from inflicting any personal vengeance upon the 
courtiers and ministers, who had, for so many years, treated 
him with indignity. Every day some new and wise measure 
was announced, some just punishment inflicted, or some well mer- 
ited reward bestowed. Among other acts which won the praise 
of all discerning people, was the release of Kosciusko, who, for 
many years, had been confined in the fortress of Schlusselberg. 
Paul not only struck off" the fetters of this great man, but be- 
stowed upon him a large sum of money, which enabled him to 
live independently for the rest of his days. The new emperor 
sought out and recalled from poverty and obscurity, those 
few officers who still survived the assassination of his unfortu- 
nate father, Peter III., and who had endeavored, but in vain, to 



276 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

avert that bloody and cruel catastrophe. Among these was 
Baron Sternberg, formerly aid-de-camp to Peter ; whom he 
immediately made general-in-chief, and adorned with the riband 
of St. Alexander. 

But these favorable displays of character did not long con- 
tinue ; and Paul began those unfortunate errors of his reign, 
which eventually led to his ruin, by exhibiting such eccentrici- 
ties of conduct as very soon rendered him contemptible. On 
one occasion his horse stumbled with him in one of the streets 
of St. Peterburg. He alighted immediately ; held a sort of 
consultation with his attendants ; and then condemned the 
horse to receive fifty lashes with a whip. Paul commanded 
them to be given on the spot, surrounded by the populace ; and 
as he counted the strokes, continually repeated ; " There sir, 
that is for having stumbled with the Emperor." 

Notwithstanding the promise which he had given to Zubof, 
the last favorite of Catherine, that he should retain his emolu- 
ments and standing at court, he soon expelled him ignomini- 
ously from both ; and although this step in itself was not ob- 
jectionable, yet his vacillation of mind, and his unjust expulsion 
from their offices of nearly all the oldest and most experienced 
ministers of the empire, showed that his habitual want of dis- 
cretion was again governing his conduct. He forbade round 
hats to be worn in Russia ; and commanded that thenceforth no 
Russian should harness horses in the usual wav : but allowed 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 277 

his subjects two weeks' time to provide, themselves with harness 
from Germany. 

At the court balls the dancers were obliged to twist them- 
selves in every possible way, in order not to turn their backs 
upon him,' when dancing, wherever he might be ! He subse- 
quently issued a ukase forbidding the use of frock coats and 
pantaloons ; he ordered the Academy of Sciences never to use 
the word Revolution^ when speaking of the movements of the 
heavenly bodies ; and commanded the players always to sub- 
stitute the word permission, instead of liberty, in their public 
representations in the theatres. 

Paul was twice married. His first wife was Nathalie Alex- 
ievna, princess of Hesse Darmstadt, who died in 1776. By 
her he had no children. His second w^ife was Marie Fedeor- 
ovna, princess of Wurtemberg, who died in 1828. By her he 
had ten children. Their names are given below.* In his do- 
mestic habits, he was not objectionable. He treated his wife 
and children with tenderness and affection. His only blemish 
in this respect was, that he indulged in sevefal illicit connexions 

* Alexander, born VlTly died 1823; Constantine, born Vl1% died 
18S1 ; Alexandrina, born 1783, married to Joseph, palatine of Hun- 
gary, died 1801 ; Helena, born 1784, married to Frederick, prince 
of Mecklenburg Strelitz, died in 1818; Maria, born 1785, married 
to Charles, grand duke of Saxe "Weimar; Catharine, born 1788, mar- 
ried fir&t to prince George of Holstein Oldenburg ; • secondly to 
William I., King of Wurtemberg, died in 1819; Olga, born 1792, 



278 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

with women; although liis character might be said to have 
been purity itself, compared with that of his mother. 

The evils attendant upon the perverted misgovernment of 
Paul, rapidly increased. During the four years of his reign, 
he had concluded and broken off treaties with nearly all the 
European^ powers. Constant changes were made both in the 
officers of the empire, and in the measures adopted. His 
barber, Count Kutaizow, at length became his favorite, and 
finally his prime minister ; and his increasing acts of caprice, 
extravagance and severity, were gradually raising around him 
a formidable body of secret enemies, whose power was only 
egualed by their hostility. Their enmity gradually, but in- 
evitably, tdok the shape of an organized conspiracy against his 
life and throne. This conspiracy made its bold and desperate 
strike on tl^e 23d of March, 1801, and ended this unfortunate 
sovereign's career, by his violent death.- The conspirators, at 
night, rushed into his bedroom, but found his bed empty. The 
Zubofs, Benningsen, Tolstoi, and Ouvarof immediately began 
to search the apartment. Paul was found secreted behind a 
screen. He was dragged forth, and commanded immediately 

died 1795 ; Anne, born 1*795, married to WiUiam II., king of Hol- 
land; Mcholas, born 1796, died 1855; Michael," born 1798, died 
1852. 

A list of the immediate descendants of Paul I., is given on a pre- 
ceding page of this volume ; but it is not as minute and accurate 
in its details as the above. 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 279 

to sign his abdication. He refused, and was strangled with a 
scarf, after a desperate resistance. He died at the age of 
forty-six. 

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Alexander. This prince 
had supped with his father at eight o'clock on the evening of 
the 23d of March ; was informed of his death at nine, and at 
ten, he assumed the sceptre which had been so ignominiously 
wrested from his grasp. Alexander was not ignorant of the 
plans and purposes of the conspirators, and seems to have ap- 
proved them. His chief defect of character was his- want of 
decision. He possessed a mind of considerable acuteness ; and 
a peculiarly winning grace of manner. He ascended the throne 
at the age of tw^enty-five ; and his accession was. hailed with 
universal joy, by a nation wearied and disgusted with the insane 
follies of his predecessor. 

Alexander possessed a handsome person, and was well moan- 
ing in his purposes, but like all those whose minds are deficient 
in energy and self-reliance, he was a dissembler. Napoleon 
declared respecting him, at St. Helena: "The Emperor of 
Russia possesses abilities, grace, and information ; but one can- 
not trust him. He is a true Greek of the Lower Empire. He 
pretended to be metaphysical ; and on one occasion, argued 
with me, for a whole hour, that hereditary right was an abuse, 
and I had to expend all my learning and eloquence to convince 
him, that hereditary right maintains the repose and happiness 



280 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

of nations. Perhaps he wished merely to mistify me ; for he 
is cunning, false, and skillful." 

During his younger years, Alexander had been the favorite 
of his grand-mother, Catherine II. ; but she died before he had 
arrived at an age sufficiently mature, to become corrupted in 
his morals by that great Circe of the North, who seduced and 
contaminated all who came within the reach of her influence. 
He commenced his xeign by effecting many reforms, which 
were much needed; and by canceling the most obnoxious 
measures and institutions which had been established by Paul. 
He arose to ap European importance, only when he was thrown 
into connection with the mightier Napoleon. At first he joined 
Austria and Prussia a<]rainst that Colossus : but after his own 
defeat by Napoleon at Friedland, in 1807, he was glad to con- 
clude a truce with his foe at Tilsit. 

It was during the conferences held at Tilsit, that the ambi- 
tious Corsican astounded and regaled the Czar, with his stupen- 
dous plans and "schemes for a universal Duocracy, by which the 
empire not only of Europe, but also of the world, was to be 
divided between the two sovereigns of Russia and France. He 
then became the ally of Napoleon, and the foe of his ancient 
friend, the king of Prussia. But the two great autocrats could 
not long harmonize. Napoleon soon began to display his ulti- 
mate purpose, which ,was that the Duocracy which he had pro- 
posed, should ultimately be meltod down into' a Monocracy,, of 



THE ROMANOFF DYIf ASTY. 281 

which he alone should be the supreme head. Alexander took 
offensive measures, and while Napoleon was humbling Austria 
for the fourth time, Alexander marched into Finland, attacked 
Gustavus of Sweden, by surprise, bought over the command- 
ants of the fortresses of Sweaborg, Helsingford, and other 
strongholds of the Baltic, and reduced the Grand-duchy under 
his sway. 

At the southern extremity of his empire, Alexander attacked 
Turkey and wrested^ Bessarabia from the feeble grasp of the 
Sultan. Alexander demanded of Napoleon that he would 
yield to him Wallachia and Moldavia, and the refusal of the 
Trench emperor to accede to this request, led to a wider breach 
between them, which finally resulted in the open breach, and 
war of 1812. It was during this memorable campaign that 
^ Napoleon's march to Moscow, and the conflagration of that 
city took place. 

In 1815, afler the battle of Waterloo, Europe, so violently 
convulsed by the prodigious throes of the great Corsican's am- 
bition, sank into a long and deep repose. Alexander then con- 
fined himself to the administration of the affairs of his own 
empire ; but his later years were embittered by the secret 
projects and schemes of liberalists and conspirators, who wished 
to introduce a constitutional form of government into Russia. 
It is also said that his whole life was saddened by the recollec- 
tion of his .connection with the cruel murder of his father, 



282 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

which, if he did not directly promote, he might have effectually 
prevented. 

In 1825, Alexander determined to m.ake a tour in the Crimea, 
then as now, one of the richest garden-spots of Europe. This 
domain had been added to the Russian empire, by the ambi- 
tious Catherine. It was at Taganrog, that he was attacked 
with symptoms of bilious remittent fever. He rejected all 
medical aid, and died there, on the 1st of December, 1825. It 
was for a long time supposed that he had fallen a victim to 
poison ; and the subsequent sudden deaths of his brother Con- 
stantine, of General Diebitch, and others, have been ascribed 
to Count Gregory Orloff, afterward minister of police, under 
Nicholas. How true these dark surmises may have been, it 
is impossible now to decide; but it is certain that the latter 
years of Alexander were clouded by dark and fearful forebo- 
dings, that he should eventually suffer the violent end, which 
had, in so many instances, been the fate of his imperial ances- 
cestors, and which he had himself apportioned to his prede- 
cessor. 

Immediately upon the death of Alexander, Constantine, his 
legal successor, instantly dispatched his brother Michael from 
Warsaw, with a letter to Nicholas, containing a formal con- 
firmation of the act of 1822, by which he had voluntarily 
resigned the throne to the latter. An insurrection ensued in 
St. Petersburg, in consequence of the apprehension which pre- 



THE KOMANOFP DYNASTY. 283 

vailed that this act was forged, and that Constantine had been 
unjustly excluded from his rightful inheritance. In a few hours, 
however, the energy and decision of Nicholas suppressed the 
revolt, and he ascended the throne of his ancestors on Decem- 
ber 24th, 1825. 

This celebrated prince was bom in 1796, and was regarded 
as the handsomest man in his empire. His manners were 
cold, inanimate, and without any attractive quality. His fea- 
tures were stern and severe ; and all those who have written 
respecting him, agree in celebrating the piercing and penetra- 
ting power of his eye. A Russian nobleman narrates the case 
of a young lover, who had accidentally wandered, in a state of 
abstraction, into one of the parks of the palace, and suddenly 
found himself in the presence of this imperial Phoenix, whose 
terrible glance was fixed sternly and coldly upon him. A vio- 
lent fever was the consequence, which after a few days ended 
fatally, resulting from the excessive terror of the unfortunate 
culprit. 

To see this man, who seemed thus born to sway the rod of 
empire over his fellow men, in all his glory, it was necessary 
to attend one of his grand reviews at St. Petersburg, where he 
really appeared as the worthy sovereign of seventy millions 
of men. Then, dressed in the splendid scarlet uniform of the 
Cossacks of the Guard, he looked every inch a monarch ; and 
his clear and sonorous voice, in giving the word of command, 



284 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

rang loudly along the serried lines of his warriors, and rever- 
berated over the plain * 

It was his practice to walk daily through the streets of his 
capital ; and when saluted by the passers-by, he uniformly and 
graciously returned it. But no one had a right to address 
him, or present him a petition in the streets, under penalty of 

*"The amiable author of 'Letters from the Baltic' describes 
*the Czar as a figure to which there is no second in Russia, if in the 
world itself: a figure of the grandest beauty, expression, dimension, 
and carriage, uniting all the majesties and the graces of all the 
heathen gods — the little God of Love alone, perhaps, excepted — on 
its ample and symmetrical proportions. Had this nobility of per- 
son belonged to a common Mugik instead of the Autocrat of the 
Russias, the admiration could not have been less, nor scarcely the 
feeling of moral awe. It was not the monarch -who was so magni- 
cent, but the man who was so truly imperial. 

" The person of the Emperor is that of a colossal man, in the full 
prime of life and health, fifty-four years of age, about six feet two 
inches high, and well filled out, without any approach to corpu- 
lency ; the head magnificently carried, a splendid breadth of shoulder 
and chest, great length and symmetry of limb, with finely-formed 
hands and feet. His face is strictly Grecian ; forehead and nosie 
in one grand line ; the eyes finely lined, large, open, and blue, with 
a calmness, a boldness, a freezing dignity, which can equally quell an 
insurrection, daunt an assassin, or paralyze a petitioner ; the mouth 
regular, teeth fine, chin prominent, with dark moustache and 
small whisker, but not a sympathy on his face ! His mouth some- 
times smiled, his eyes never ! There was that in his look which 
no monarch's subject could meet. His eye seeks every one's gaze, 
but none can confront his." 



THE EOMANGJFF DYlfASTT. 285 

arrest. Sometimes, like Haroiu>al-Raschid, Nicholas amused 
himself by going about incognito. Many adventures are nar- 
rated, as having occurred to him, on these excursions ; In all 
of which he displayed his usual courage, and sometimes more 
than his wonted forbearance and amiability. He could at tim^s 
forget that he was an Autocrat. 

Nevertheless, in all his public acts as a sovereign, Nicholas 
was a despotic tyrant. He was the great bulwark of Absolu- 
tism in the nineteenth century ; and his stupendous power and 
influence were all employed in resisting the advances of ra- 
tional liberty throughout the world, and in building up the tot- 
tering thrones, and strengthening the rotten dynasties, of Eu- 
rope. Nicholas was ever actuated by a far-reachmg ambition ; 
and the ultimate aim of all his measures during a long course 
of years, from the day on whifch he commenced to reign, until 
that of his death, was the realization of one brilliant 4dea ; and 
that was, the capture of Constantinople, and the subjugation of 
the Turkish dominion to his own. 

It was this stupendous and glittering prize which first fired 
the ambition of the great Catherine, and which Potempkin once 
fondly hoped to realize, even in his day. This same idea had 
a prominent place in the heart of the gentler Alexander ; but 
when the stronger arm of Nicholas grasped the sceptre of the 
Czars, the accomplishment of this vast scheme seemed to be 
nearer and surer than before. The day did not appear to ba 



286 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

very far distant, when the vanquished and suppliant Sultan 
would be seen bending his knee in submission before the 
haughty and triumphant Muscovite, in his northern capital; 
and when Constantinople, for a thousand years the centre of 
Moslem power, glory, conquest and religion, would open her 
" golden gates " to an all-conquering king, and be ruled by 
him with a rod of iron, as a mere appendage to his greater 
throne and empire. 

In furtherance of this purpose, Nicholas carried on the war 
of 1828-29 with Turkey. For this, he commenced and 
waged a bloody conflict in the Caucasus, and dissolved the re- 
public of Cracow. And for this, had he advanced such mon- 
strous and unjust claims, respecting his right to interfere with 
the sovereignty of Turkey over her own Greek subjects, that 
even the lethargic " sick man," who feebly reposes and dreams 
away his voluptuous existence amid oriental luxury at Stam- 
boul, was groused to indignant resistance, while the rest of 
Europe was startled into apprehension for the future balance 
of power in the East. In furtherance of this stupendous pro- 
ject of ambition, the mighty Nicholas, in a word, com- 
menced the present war, which has for several years convulsed 
and afflicted Christendom. 

During the visit which Nicholas made to England, in the 
year 1844, the Eastern Question became the subject of con- 
versation between him and the then existing English govern- 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 287 

ment. No particular difficulty at that time seemed to be im« 
pending, in reference to it, and the sentiments then expressed 
by the Czar were utterly at variance with those subsequently 
announced by him on the commencement of the war. Imme- 
diately on his return to St. Petersburg, he sent a " memoran- 
dum " to Lord Aberdeen, containing at length his professed 
opinions on the subject. They were such as the following : 
That the great aim of the European powers should be, the 
maintenance of the Turkish sovereignty, precisely as it then 
was, and that the several powers should abstain from making 
any demands upon Turkey of a selfish nature, and should not 
undertake to dictate in any authoritative manner to the Sultan, 
respecting the internal government of his domuiions. He also 
held, that if the Porte gave any of these powers cause for just 
complaint, that power should be assisted by the rest, in having 
that cause of complaint removed ; and that, in any case, the 
powers should use their best endeavors with the ^^hristian sub- 
jects of the Porte, to continue their allegiance to it. He also 
suggested that the alliance between Russia and England should, 
under all circumstances, remain unimpaired and undisturbed. 
Such were the professed sentiments of Nicholas in 1844. 

When the Revolution of 1848 broke out in Paris, Nicholas 
exclaimed to the officers of his guard : " Gentlemen, prepare 
to mount your horses ! " This outbreak seemed to produce 
the same effect upon him, of terror and apprehension, which 



288 A BRIEi^ SURVEY OF 

the opening scenes of the fii'st French Revolution did upon the 
Empress Catherine II. His sentiments of amity and es- 
teem for the powers of Western Europe immediately seemed 
to change ; and he commenced to revolve in his mind a sys- 
tem of exclusive selfishness and hostility toward all those who 
were either parties, or neighbors, to the detestable movement 
which precipitated the cloaked despot, Louis Philippe, from 
his throne. 

During the heroic struggles of the Hungarians in 1849, 
against Austria, for the mdependence and glory of their coun- 
try, Nicholas interposed ; threw his vast armies upon the Hun- 
garian forces ; aiid secured the immense domains of the Mag- 
yars to the tottering throne of the house of Hapsburg, after 
the Austrian troops had all been twice expelled from the ter- 
ritories of Hungary by the Revolutionists. And even then, 
it is not improbable that the combined power of Austria and 
Russia would have failed to subjugate a nation determined to 
strike a death blow to tyranny, or else themselves to perish 
in the attempt, had not the infamous traitor, Gorgei, directly 
betrayed the best army and strongest fortress of Hungary, to 
his country's foes, for gold. 

After the disastrous end of this revolution, Nicholas had 
leisure to resume his aggressive schemes in reference to Tur- 
key. It was in 1850 that difficulties began to occur between 
the Greek Christians in Syria, and the government of the SuJ- 



THE EOMANOFF DYNASTY. 289 

tan. In that country, the Greek clergy had long enjoyed great 
monopolies, and the precedency over the Latin Christians. 
Nicholas determined to step in, and interfere in the protection 
of the rights of the former, and to dictate to the Sultan what 
course he should pursue in the matter. Prince MenchikofF 
was immediately sent to Constantinople with the instructions 
and requirements of the Czar. He paid a visit of ceremony 
to the Grand Vizier, and to the Patriarch ; but none to Faud 
EfFendi, the minister for Foreign Affairs. The two govern- 
ments immediately became embroiled respecting the " Holy 
Places" in Palestine. 

Through the interposition of Lord Stradford de Redcliffe, the 
British minister at the Porte, the difficulties were eventually 
settled, and an open rupture between Russia and Turkey was 
for the present averted. 

But in 1853 the ambitious spirit of Nicholas was again 
aroused ; and spurred on by the successful strides of his ene- 
my, Louis Napoleon, toward the possession of supreme 
power, he determined no longer to mask his careiliUy concealed 
avidity to grasp the sceptre from the Sultan. Prince Men- 
chikofT again appeared in Constantinople, and set forth new 
and extravagant demands from the Czar. These demands 
were, that the Russian ambassador to the Porte, should " rep- 
resent" or protect the grievances of the Greek Christians in the 
Turkish empire ; that th© Czar should have the fight to the 



290 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

custody of certain Holy Places in the East ; the right to re- 
pair the Christian (Greek) churches at Constantinople ; and 
other claims which would have in fact constituted the Czar 
the real sovereign of the Greek Christians throughout the 
Turkish dominions. To these extravagant and outrageous de- 
mands, boldly set forth by Prince Menchikofl, the Sultan at 
once returned a positive, firm, and unconditional refusal. On 
his so doing, the government of Prussia and Austria expressed 
their approbation of the stand taken by the Sultan ; and the 
same concurrence was immediately given by the French and 
English cabinets. 

On receiving the positive and uncompromising denial of the 
Sultan, to the infamous demands of his master, Prince Menchi- 
koff immediately left Constantinople, and the armies of the 
Czar at once advanced into the provinces of Wallachia and 
Moldavia, and took military possession of them. The pretext 
under which this was done was, that the Czar felt compelled 
to secure a " material guarantee" that the Sultan would eventu- 
ally yield to his demands. Soon after followed the total and 
sudden destruction of the Sultan's fleet at Sinope, under cir- 
cumstances of the greatest atrocity, by the ^naval armaments 
of the unscrupulous Czar. *^ 

On the third of July, 1853, the Russian divisions passed 
over into the Danubian principalities, as we have already said. 
Omer Pasha, the ablest and most experienced of the Turkic. 



THE ROMANOFF DYJ^ASTY. 291 

officers, commanded the troops of the Sultan, m those provin- 
ces; and it was not very long before the Russian general, 
Prince GortchakoffJ and he, came to blows. The first pitched 
battle of this memorable war, -^s fought on the 2d of Novem- 
ber, at Oltenitza. The \ictory remained with the Turks. 
Next in order came the battle of Citale, with a similar result. 
At the siege of Silistria, which soon followed, the so-called 
" sick-man " seemed to have put on the stupendous vigor and 
power of his youth, again ; and displayed a degree of energy 
and heroism worthy of his palmiest days, when Barbarossa's 
great name shook even the stately Venice with terror, as she 
reposed in majesty on her hundred isles. At Silistria, the 
Russians were driven from the attack with prodigious losses. 
Prmce Paskiewitz in vain rallied the Russian troops. Gen- 
eral Schilders was killed ; Luders lost a jaw-bone-; GortchakofF 
was desperately wounded; and Prince Paskiewitz himself 
barely escaped with his life. The Russians lost thirty thou- 
sand men under the walls of Silistria. 

Next came the battle of the Alma, in which the eagles of 
Allies were again victorious, and the Russians gave up posses- 
sion of Balaklava to the conquerers, after a feeble resistance. 
Then followed the triumph of Inkermann, in which the Allies 
gained their third pitched battle over the Russians ; after 
which, they quietly proceded to draw their lines of circumvalla- 

tion around Sevastopol, the greatest fortress in the empire. 
M 



292 ^ A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

It may readily be supposed, that an unexpected series of de- 
feats and misfortunes sorely galled the high-mettled and chaf 
ing spirit of the haughty Czar. That these reverses produced 
an important and injurious effect upon his health and spirits, 
is not denied, by those having the most satisfactory sources of 
information. On the 2d of March, 1855, all Europe was start- 
led with the sudden news, that the mighty Nicholas was dead ! 
That eagle eye which from afar had gazed upon the glittering 
turrets of Constantinople, so eager for their possession, now 
lies rayless and sightless, in the dark vaults of St. Isaac's 
magnificent temple ; and shall never more beam with electric 
lustre at the head of his far extending legions. God had pun- 
ished the disturber of the world's repose, by a deadly blow 
from his own omnipotent hand ; and had stripped him forever 
of the power to terrify and curse his fellow men. He expired, 
to the joy of the whole universe, in the fifty-ninth year of his 
age, at St. Petersburg. His disease was pulmonary apoplexy. 
He was succeeded on the throne by his eldest son, Alex- 
ander n. 

It is said that the death of Nicholas was accelerated, by his 
habit of tight lacing, in which he had long indulged. His vanity 
had led him to practice this absurdity to such an extreme de- 
gree, that he often fainted when he ungirthed himself to sleep. 
A tendency to congestion of the lungs, was an inevitable 
consequence of this despicable weakness, which undoubt- 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 293 

edly accelerated his end. Quern Deus vult perdere, prius 
dementat ! 

And yet, there were features in the character of the Czar 
Nicholas, which were neither so iniposing, nor so repulsive, as 
those referred to, on a preceding page. 

On one occasion, happening to pass by a restaurant in tiio 
capital, he saw an elegantly dressed young man issue from it, 
smoking a cigar. Nicholas being dressed incognito, accosted 
him, and said : " I presume you are a stranger sir ? " 
" Yes, sir ; how came you to suppose so 1" 
" Because you are violating the law in reference to smoking." 
" Is it possible ? Is it forbidden to smoke in St. Petersburg," 
in the streets ?" 
" It is so, sir." 

" I thank you, then, for the information. I respect the laws 
above everything, and will immediately cease to smoke." 

" Never mind ; smoke on ; as long as you are with me you 
are perfectly safe." 

" You are, then, I suppose, some distinguished nobleman of 
the empire 1" 

" I possess some influence here ; and if I can serve you in 
any way, I'll be happy to do so." 

" I will be exceedingly grateful to you, for your kindness. 
I came here on business ; and they tell me, that influence does 
everything in Russia." 



294 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

Thus the conversation was contmued for some time, while 
the two gentlemen leisurely continued their walk along the 
street. The windows of the front shops were full of portraits of 
the emperor; and yet the stranger failed to observe their resem- 
blance to his companion. At lesgth they passed the last shop in the 
Great Morskoi, where a magnificent portrait of the Czar adorned 
the window. Like a thunberbolt the conviction rushed on the 
mind of the stranger that lie had been promenading with the 
mighty emperor ; and he instantly fell upon his knees, ex- 
claiming " Pardon ! Pardon ! I pray your majesty to forgive 
me my boldness!" "I forgive you," answered Nicholas, 
" smoke no more in the street, or I may not always be with 
you to protect you. Call at the palace to-morrow at 4 o'clock, 
and I'll see what I can do for you." 

It need scarcely be added, that the young man was punctual 
to the appointment, and that the Czar amply fulfilled his 
'promise. 

In 1845, the Russian emperor made a visit to Rome, and 
it so happened that the celebrated Fanny Ellssler honored, or 
disgraced, the capital of Christendom with her presence at the 
same time. That artist had but recently visited St. Peters-* 
burg, where she had been most graciously received by the 
Czar ; and she supposed that he would readily accord to her 
the same degree of consideration in Rome. An aid-de-camp 
of the emperor, to whom she expressed her desire, directed 



THE ROMANOFF DY:NASTY. 295 

her to place herself in the way of the emperor when he was 
passing through one of the galleries of paintings. Accordingly, 
when the emperor passed by, Md'lle Ellssler, arrayed in her 
most magnificent toilet, awaited him, expecting to be presented. 

" Who is that lady ?" inquired. Nicholas. 

" It is Fanny Ellssler, who desires to be presented to your 
majesty." 

" Fanny Ellssler ! and what would the world say, if the em- 
peror of Eussia came to Rome, to have ballet-dancers pre- 
sented to him T And he passed by the fair and frail dan- 
sense, without deigning to give her the least sign of recogni- 
tion. It is said that she was intensely mortified at the rebuE 

One winter evening, as the emperor passed by one of the 
guard houses of the capital, he had the curiosity to see what 
was going on within. He entered. The officer on duty was 
seated near a table, asleep, but fully accoutred from head to 
foot. The emperor perceived a piece of paper laying on the 
table, on which was written, as he discovered, a memorandum 
of the expenses and receipts of the officer. One item of his 
expenses was a liberal allowance for the support of his aged 
mother. His expenses amounted to eight thousand rubles, 
while his salary only amounted to four thousand. At the foot 
of the calculation containing the several items of credit and 
debit, he had written this ominous question : W7io will pay 
the overplus ? The emperor immediately took the pen, which 



296 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

lay on the table, and wrote his well known signature — 
"Nicholas" — below; and then quietly withdrew from the 
guard house. The surprise and terror of the officer may readily 
be inferred, when he awoke, and saw the portentous signature 
before him. The next morning an orderly from the palace 
brought him four thousand rubles, with a letter from Nicholas, 
commanding him in future to choose a better time and place 
to sleep, but still to continue to take care of his mother. 

The personal courage of Nicholas has never been doubted. 
The evidences of this are numerous. When the cholera first 
visited St. Petersburg, the inhabitants of that city thought that 
the physicians, foreigners, and Poles, had poisoned the springs. 
A riot occurred, and some of the most distinguished citizens 
were murdered. At length, a vast crowd had assembled, 
which threatened death to all the supposed causes of the plague. 
The emperor ordered a droschky, and instantly dashed into the 
midst of the infuriated multitude. Standing up in the droschky, 
he commanded them, in a loud and imperious tone of voice, to 
stand back. " Where are you going, you wretches ?" he ex- 
claimed; " you are about to murder innocent men. Down on 
your knees, and ask pardon of God for your own sins, which have 
brought this scourge upon you." The whole multitude, strangely 
overawed by the magic power of his heroism and fortitude, 
immediately knelt, and then gradually and quietly dispersed. 
Similar resolution and heroism marked his conduct at the 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 297 

breaking out of the formidable conspiracy which attended his 
assumption of the imperial purple. 

No man, indeed, was more -absolute than he, in th'e accom- 
plishment of all his purposes and whims. In 1845, there was 
a large and valuable domain to be sold at St. Petersbug. 
Nicholas had secretly made up his mind to purchase it. Be- 
fore he was aware of the fact, a purchaser had privately 
bought it. 

Said Nicholas to Nesselrode, " What has become of the do- 
main of the Princess R ?" 

" It is sold, your majesty." 
" "Sold! Sold! did you say r 

« Yes, sire." 

" They have been in a great hurry. Who bought it 1" 

"The Count M ." 

" Very well. / wish to buy it. Let the arrangement be 
broken immediately !" 

" But the title deeds are all executed and the domain is 
paid for." 

" Then let them destroy the titles, and restore the money," 
replied the Czar. 

It need scarcely be added, that the command of the Auto- 
crat was instantly obeyed. Such are some of the felicities 
which attend the lot of those who are born under the dominion 
of an absolute tyrant. The knout, the battogues, and the dark 



298 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

and frozen mines of Siberia, will tell the rest of the sad ana 
revolting tale. 

Nicholas was succeeded by his eldest son, the Grand Duke 
Alexander. His mother, the empress, was the daughter of the 
lamented Louisa, queen of Prussia, whose death was caused 
by the brutal conduct of Napoleon toward her family and 
kingdom after the battle of Jena. The late empress of Russia 
is described as having been a princess of rare beauty, amiability 
and accomplishment. The Marquis of Londonderry in his 
" Tour in the North of Europe," speaks of her as follows : 
" The indescribable majesty of deportment and fascinating grace 
that mark this illustrious personage, are very peculiar. Cele- 
brated as are all the females connected with the lamented and 
beautiful queen of Prussia, there -is none of them more be- 
witching in manner than the empress of Russia ; nor is there 
existing, according to all reports, so excellent and perfect a 
being." She enjoyed, notwithstanding the elevation of her 
position, all the blessings of domestic life. She lived in affec- 
tion and harmony with her illustrious husband, and was the 
mother of a numerous progeny of children, whom she reared 
in the most commendable manner. The chivalrous conduct 
and honorable deportment of the grand dukes and the match- 
ess beauty and loveliness of the grand duchesses, have been 
(he subject of universal praise throughout Europe. 
Alexander I., the youthful monarch who now sways the 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 29^ 

sceptre of this prodigious empire, is described as being a 
prince of considerable merit. He inherits his father's majestic 
person, and the regularity of his features ; but is entirely free 
from the cold, unsympathizing grandeur of demeanor, which 
disgraced the latter. He is, on the contrary, amiable and pa- 
cific in his disposition. He ascended the throne at the mature 
age of thirty-five. He is married to the sister of the grand 
duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, — one of those petty princely fam- 
lies of Germany, which, like the Cobourgs, seem to be perpet- 
uated only as breeding establishments, to supply with more 
vigorous blood the greater effete dynasties of Europe ! 

Alexander II. has entered upon his reign, under the most 
difficult and trying circumstances. He inherited with his 
throne, the conduct of a most unjust, expensive and infamous 
war ;— a war, during the progress of which, though his troops 
have displayed considerable skill and bravery, defeat and dis- 
aster have, for the most part, atttended their exertions. 

The latest event which has occurred between the combat 
ants, has been the most disastrous of all to the Russian arms. 
Sevastopol, probably the most stupendous fortress of the em- 
pire, equal in magnitude and strength to Cronstadt itself, and 
the great bulwark of Russian power in the Crimea and the 
Black Sea, has at length fallen ; after one of the most memo- 
rable and desperate sieges recorded in history. On the 6th 
of September, 1855, the French and English forces com- 



300 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

menced a bombardment from their works against the defences 
of the town, extending along a front of four miles ; pouring 
upon the besieged, for three days, an uninterrupted fiery del- 
uge of shot and shell. So destructive was this far-extending 
and simultaneous attack, that the Russians soon became una- 
ble to reply to it from their batteries ; although when the as- 
sailants attempted to assault the works, they were driven back 
five times successively, with immense losses, by the deter- 
mined valor of the Russians. At length, the sixth assault 
proved successful ; and the French troops succeeded in taking, 
and retaining possession of, the vast fortress of the Malakoff. 
The English troops also succeeded in effecting an entrance into 
the Great Redan, and the French into the Central Bastion, but 
were unable at that time to maintain their positions. 

Nevertheless, this triumph of the Allies was of immense im- 
portance. The Russians were compelled to evacuate the 
greater portion of the town. All their line-of-battle ships, 
which lay in the harbor of Sevastopol — the same which de- 
stroyed the Turkish vessels and their crews, with such unpar- 
alleled barbarity, at Sinope — were sunk, by the orders of 
Prince Gortchakoff, to prevent them from falling into the hands 
of the conquerors. Previous to their retreat, a large portion 
of the city was blown up by the Russians ; and the deserted 
scene of the most stupendous siege, perhaps, recorded in his- 
tory, presented to the eye of the observer only a wide waste 



THE EOMAXOFF DYS^ASTY. SOI 

of ruined and desolated buildings. The loss of the Allies at 
this single attack, has been estimated at twenty thousand 
killed and wounded ; and that of the Eussians at ten thou- 
sand. Two thousand cannon were captured by the victors, to- 
gether with a vast amount of ammunition. 

The English commander, General Simpson, in speaking of 
this great and decisive triumph, says : " I inspected, to-day, Se- 
vastopol and its line of defences. The mind cannot form an 
exact picture of our victory — the full extent of it can only be 
understood by an examination of the place itself. The multi. 
plicity of works of defence, and the material means applied 
thereto, exceed, by far, anything seen in the history of the war. 
The capture of the Malakoff has placed in the hands of 
the allies a large amount of material, and immense estab- 
lishments." 

The fall of Sebastopol has, in truth, struck a deadly blow 
at the power and supremacy of Russia in the Crimea. Had 
the great Nicholas lived to witness this crowning ignominy to 
his vaunting pride, it would have added an additional zest to 
the exultations of the victors, and to the congratulations of the 
world. But, happily for himself, he sleeps, where neither the 
frenzied shouts of triumph, nor the deep curses of the van- 
quished, can disturb his long repose. It is unquestionably 
true, that the loss of this great fortress will considerably di- 
minish the formidableness of Russia, in the present war ; and 



302 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

the reflection must indeed be a galling one to the present heir 
and representative of the aspiring Catherine, that his ablest ar- 
naies and generals, instead of assaulting and vanquishing Con- 
stantinople, as they had proudly hoped, have lost his own most 
valuable possession in the south, w^hich has thus become the 
prey of the adverse powers. And we may safely affirm, that 
whether ultimate victory or defeat will be the final issue of the 
present war, Alexander II. will inevitably be a loser in the es- 
timation of mankind. If he triumphs, it will be the triumph 
of unjust aggression over the rights of a weaker and inoffen- 
sive sovereign, who justly resisted the unprincipled encroach- 
ments of the great Nicholas, upon his own prerogatives. If 
the Czar be defeated, the prestige of Russian greatness, ma- 
jesty and power will forever fade away, no longer to terrify 
and overawe, by its colossal strength, the rest of Europe. 

Constantine, the second son of Nicholas, possesses a much 
more imperious and warlike character than Alexander. He is 
said to insist upon the fulfillment of his father's ambitious pur- 
poses concerning Turkey. He has made himself thoroughly 
acquainted with the language, laws, and government of that 
country ; and his purpose unquestionably is — should he ever 
succeed to the throne, which is by no means improbable — to 
carry forward the great Romanoff* idea of the conquest of the 
Moslem dominions, with all the indomitable resolution and 
fierceness of his character. He is now high admiral of the 



THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY. 303 

Russian fleets ; and is represented as being more than equal 
in severity and ferocity of temper, to his late uncle, Con- 
stantine. 

The Grand Duke Michael, the son of Paul I., having been 
born in 1798, after the accession of his father, was the uncle 
of the present Czar, and the wealthiest member of the impe- 
rial family. His greatest characteristic was a disposition to 
perpetrate puns. He was tender hearted, and frequently wept 
when witnessing the ferocities perpetrated by his savage brother 
Constantine, upon the unfortunate Poles in Warsaw. Michael 
died in 1849, leaving three daughters and the princess, his 
wife, who was the Grand Duchess Helena, of Wurtemberg. 
The savage Grand Duke Constantine, who, during his govern- 
ment of Poland, caused so many tears to flow, died in 1831. 
He has won for himself the disgraceful eminence of having 
been the most infamous and blood-thirsty tyrant of modern 
times. 

In addition to the present Czar, Nicholas had five children ; the 
Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas, and Michael ; the Grand 
Duchess Maria, now the widow of the Duke of Leuchtenberg •, 
and the Princess Olga, whose remarkable resemblance to Lou- 
isa, the late queen of Prussia, is the theme of constant note 
and observation. She has been an invalid for some years. 

The imperial dynasty of the Romanofls, during its past ca- 
reer, has produced at least three individuals, who were pre- 



304 A BEIEF SURVEY OF 

eminent and unrivaled models in their respective departments ; 
and who will stand forth, during all ages to come, as beacon 
lights, either to attract or to disgust mankind. 

The first of these was Peter the Great, a man of vast en- 
ergy of will, of penetrating sagacity, and of shrewd discern- 
ment; who, finding himself, by the accident of his birth, 
placed upon the throne of a barbarous and obscure kingdom, 
which was the object of the contempt and derision of the rest 
of the civilized world, determined to wipe away that heredi- 
tary stain, by the elevation and aggrandizement of his people. 
He unquestionably possessed a genius of vast creative and ad- 
ministrative power. Beneath the magic touch of his hand, 
Russia rapidly emerged from the glooms of barbarism to a 
brighter day of improvement. Magnificent cities and gor- 
geous palaces soon arose, as by the command of an enchanter, 
in the midst of her most sterile and watery marshes. Chains 
of impregnable fortresses, reared their stern battlements along 
her rocky shores, to defend her territory from the invader's 
approach. Oriental wealth and barbaric luxury, mellowed 
and adorned by the elegant refinement and cultivation of 
Western Europe, were congregated in the midst of her bril- 
liant capitals. Beneath the stroke of his sagacious pen, her 
laws assumed the form of order, consistency, and permanency. 
Her armies became the most perfect for discipline, and the 
most formidable for effectiveness, of any at that time in Enr 



THE ROMANOFF DYA^ASTY. 305 

rope. Her navy rode triumphant, or least invincible, in every 
sea, and Russia, from an obscure and unimportant province of 
the remote and unknowrf North, rose to the rank of a power 
of the first magnitude among the greater dynasties of Europe. 

The second remarkable personage in the line of the Ro- 
manoffs, was Catherine II., of whose character and achieve- 
ments we need not further speak. It will suffice to say, that 
they may be concisely summed up in two expressive phrases ; 
she was an imperial debauchee and stateswoman, without an 
equal in either quality, in ancient or in modern times. 

The third and last of these great ornaments of the Roman- 
offs, was the Czar Nicholas. His genius was vast as the con- 
solidator of empire. His talent was preeminent as the skill- 
ful moulder of mighty and heterogeneous elements, into one 
immense, harmonious, and consonant unity. During his reign, 
he gradually conducted the Russian empire, to a degree of 
compact discipline and active concentration, which not the old- 
est governments of Europe could surpass, or even emulate. 
He had perfected all the details of administration to their ex- 
tremest limits, and minutest subdivisions, until it might almost 
with truth be said, that the countless myriads of Russian 
hearts, who acknowledged -his sceptre, beat in perfect unison 
with, and subjection to, his own ; and that his subjects went 
through all the details of existence as directed by him, with 
the regularity and unity of one stupendous clock-work. And 



306 A BRIEF SURVEY OF 

it is not improbable, that with the death of Nicholas I., the 
period of Russian supremacy, and especially, of the transcend 
ent glory of the Romanoffs, has terminated forever. 

One ground upon which we feel justified in makiDg this as- 
sertion, is the fact, that all the ablest ministers and generals of 
Nicholas, whose talents and experience assisted him so long 
and so effectually in the work of government, conquest, and for- 
eign diplomacy, are now either dead, or are superannuated. 

The most distinguished statesman of the Russian court who 
still survives, is Nesselrode. He was the son of German pa- 
rents, though subjects of Russia; and was born off the coast 
of Portugal, on board a British ship. He was at first a sailor, 
then a soldier, then a diplomatic attacM at Paris, and finally 
minister of foreign affairs. He was the ablest statesman of 
Europe, and more than a match for Metternich or Talleyrand. 
It is said that he is opposed to the present war; though 
court intrigues have at length overborne his wise influence and 
counsels. 

Paskiewitz, prince of Warsaw, enjoys an indisputable mili- 
tary reputation ; but he, also, is now so aged, and enfeebled by 
wounds and long service, as to be incapable of advancing the 
interests of his master, in any essential degree. His chief 
renown rests upon his campaign in Persia, in the conduct of 
which he displayed extraordinary military talents. During 
the last war between Russia and Poland, he contributed greatly 



THE ROMAKOFF DYNASTY. 307 

to the triumph of the Russian arms. He was subsequently 
appointed governor of Poland, and in this capacity won the ap- 
plause of Europe, by moderating, as far as he could, the cruel 
and inhuman severities of his master toward the ^vanquished 
patriots of Sarmatia. He is the only person in the Rnssian 
empire who is decorated with the highest order of the Tchin. 
At the commencement of the present war with Turkey, Pas- 
kiewitz was invested with the supreme command of the Rus-. 
sian armies in the principalities ; but broken by age, severe 
wounds, and the various vicissitudes of a long military and po 
litical career, he has asked, and at length obtained, permission 
to retire from the service. 

The most remarkable opponent with whom Nicholas, and 
the present Czar, have had to contend, in accomplishing their 
vast projects of conquest, is Schamyl^ the spiritual and tempo- 
ral lord of the eastern Caucasus. This great warrior and 
statesman was bom 1797, in an obscure village of Ilimry. 
He was remarkable in his youth for his intelligence, pride, and 
love of solitude. He is a handsome man, of great talents, in- 
defatigable energy and iron will. He is also a devout Mussul- 
man, and believes that all his thoughts and purposes are dir 
rectly inspired by Allah. He had three wives in 1844. His 
favorite is an Armenian of matchless beauty, who is termed 
"the Pearl of the Harem." Like Mahomet himself, he has 
sufficient appreciation of the charms of, female loveliness, to 



308 THE ROMAK^OFF DYJTASTY. 

be frequently allured by them from the severe cares of war 
and state, to the gentler dalliance of love. 

The most singular stories are seriously told and believed, 
respecting the prowess and mysterious adventures of this man. 
One of these is, that Schamyl once was slain in battle, and 
came to life again. But while we discard all that is absurd in 
his reputed history, we may well wonder at that which is real 
and authentic. Since 1837 he has defeated the invading Rus- 
sians in many great battles, in which he displayed immense 
talent, heroism, and military resources. Not the least of his 
virtues, is the amazing elasticity of purpose, and determination 
of will, which he exhibits when reduced to the lowest ebb of 
misfortune and defeat. Phoenix like, he rises from the ruins 
of his hopes and toils, to soar again on prouder and more am- 
bitious wing than ever before. He fights to defend his coun- 
try from the xinjust encroachments of Russia ; and being both 
high priest and sovereign, he exercises a stupendous and mys- 
terious influence over the minds of his subjects. May he long 
live to resist, with ultimate success, the encroachments of the 
most unprincipled and infamous despotism, which now afflicts 
and disgraces the world ! 



APPENDIX. 

No. I. 

Manifesto of the Empress Catherine 11. , giving an account of Tier 
motives for taking the reins of government into her hands. 

Bt the grace of God, We, Catherine II., empress and sovereign 
of all the Russias, make known these presents to all our lov- 
ing subjects, ecclesiastical, military, and civil. 

Our accession to the imperial throne of all the Russias, is a 
manifest proof of this truth, that when sincere hearts endeavour 
for good, the hand of God directs them. We never had either 
design or desire to arrive at empire, through the means by which 
it hath pleased the Almighty, according to the inscrutable views 
of his providence, to place us upon the throne of Russia, our dear 
country. 

On the death of our most august and dear aunt, the Empress 
Elizabeth Petrovna, of glorious memory, all true patriots (now 
our most faithful subjects), groaning for the loss of so tender a 
mother, placed their only consolation in obeying her nephew, 
whom she had named for her successor, that they might show 
thereby, in some degree, their acknowledgments to their deceased 
sovereign. And although they soon found out the weakness of 
his mind; unfit to rule so vast an empire, they imagined he would 
have known his own insufficiency. Whereupon they sought our 
maternal assistance in the affairs of government. 



SIO APPENDIX. 

But when absolute power falls to the lot of a monarch, who has 
not sufficient virtue and humanity to place just bounds to it, it 
degenerates into a fruitful source of the most pernicious evils. 
This is the sum, in short, of what our native country has suffered. 
She struggled to be delivered from a sovereign, who, being blindly 
given up to the most dangerous passions, thought of nothing but 
indulging them, without employing himself in the welfare of the 
empire committed to his care. 

During the time of his being Grand Duke, and heir to the throne 
of Russia, he often caused the most bitter griefs to his most august 
aunt and sovereign (the truth of which is known to all our court), 
however he might behave himself outwardly ; being kept under 
her eye by her tenderness, he looked upon this mark of affection 
as an insupportable yoke. He could not, however, disguise him- 
self so well, but it was perceived by all our faithful subjects, that 
he was possessed of the most audacious ingratitude, which he 
sometimes showed by personal contempt, sometimes by an avowed 
hatred to the nation. At length, throwing aside his cloak of 
■ hypocrisy, he thought it more fit to let loose the bridle of his pas- 
sions, than conduct himself as the heir of so great an empire. 
In a word, the least traces of honour were not to be perceived in 
him. "What were the consequences of all this ? 

He was scarcely assured that the death of his aunt and bene- 
factress approached, but he banished her memory entirely from 
his mind ; nay, even before she had sent forth her last groan. He 
only cast an eye of contempt on the corpse exposed on the bier ; 
and as the ceremony at that time required, obliged him to approach 
it, he did it with his eyes manifestly replete with joy ; even inti- 
mating his ingratitude by his words. We might add, that the 
obsequies would have been nothing equal to the dignity of so great 
and magnanimous a sovereign, if our tender respect to her, 



APPENDIX. 311 

cemented by the ties of blood, and the extreme affection between 
us, had not made us take that duty upon us. 

He imagined that it was not to the Supreme Being, but only to 
chance, that he was indebted for absolute power ; and that he had 
it in his hands, not for the good of his subjects, but solely for his 
own satisfaction. Adding, therefore, license to absolute power, 
he made all the changes in the state which the weakness of his 
mind could suggest, to the oppression of the people. 

Having effaced from his heart even the least traces of the holy 
orthodox religion (though he had been sufficiently taught the 
principles thereof), he began first by rooting out this true religion, 
established so long in Russia, by absenting himself from the house 
of God, and of prayers, in so open a manner, that some of his 
subjects, excited by conscience and honesty, seeing his irreverence 
and contempt of the rites of the church, or rather the railleries 
he made of them, and scandalizing them by his behaviour, dared 
to make remonstrances to him concerning it ; who, for so doing, 
scarcely escaped the resentment which they might have expected 
from so capricious a sovereign, whose power was not limited by 
any human laws. He even intended to destroy the churches, and 
ordered some to be pulled down. He prohibited those to have 
chapels in their own houses, whose infirmities hindered them from 
visiting the house of God. Thus he would have domineered over 
the faithful, in endeavouring to stifle in them the fear of God, 
which the holy scripture teaches us to be the beginning of 
wisdom. 

From this want of zeal towards God, and contempt of his laws, 
resulted that scorn to the civil and natural laws of his kingdom ; 
for having but an only son, which God had given us, the grand 
duke Paul Petrovitch, he would not, when he ascended the throne 
of Russia, declare him for his successor : that being: reserved for 



312 APPENDIX. 

his caprice, wMch tended to the detriment of us and of our son, 
having an inclination to overthrow the right that his aunt had 
vested in him, and to make the government of our native country 
pass into the hands of strangers ; in opposition to that maxim of 
natural right, according to which nobody can transmit to another 
more than he has received himself. 

Although with great grief we saw this intention, we did not 
believe that we ourselves, and our most dear son, should have 
been exposed to a persecution so severe ; but all persons of pro- 
bity having observed that the measures that he pursued, by their 
effects, manifested that they had a natural tendency to our ruin, 
and that of our dear successor, their generous and pious hearts 
were justly alarmed ; animated with zeal for the interest of their 
native country, and astonished at our patience under these heavy 
persecutions, they secretly informed us that our life was in danger, 
in order to engage us to undertake the burden of governing so 
large an empire. 

While the whole nation were on the point of testifying their 
disapprobation of his measures, he nevertheless continued to grieve 
them the more, by subverting all those excellent arrangements 
established by Peter the Great, our most dear predecessor, of glo- 
rious memory, which that true father of his country accomplished 
by indefatigable pains and labour, through the whole course of a 
reign of thirty years. The late Peter the Third despised the laws 
of the empire, and her most respectable tribunals, to such a degree, 
that he could not even bear to hear them mentioned. 

After one bloody war, he rashly entered upon another, in which 
the interests of Russia were no way concerned. He entertained 
an insuperable aversion to the regiments of guards, which had 
faithfully served his illustrious ancestors, and made innovations 
in the army, which, far from exciting in their breasts noble sen- 



APPENDIX. 31 ;} 

timents of valour, only served to discourage troops alvp^ays ready 
to spill their best blood in the cause of their country. He changed 
entirely the face of the army; nay, it even seemed that, by divid- 
ing their habits into so many uniforms, and giving them so many 
different embellishments, for the most part fantastical to the great- 
est degree, he intended to infuse into them a suspicion, that they 
did not, in effect, belong to one master, and thereby provoke the 
soldiers, in the heat of battle, to slay one another ; although ex- 
perience demonstrated, that uniformity in dress had not a little 
contributed towards unanimity. 

Inconsiderately and incessantly bent on pernicious regulations, 
he so alienated the hearts of his subjects, that there was scarcely 
a single person to be found in the nation, who did not openly ex- 
press his disapprobation, and was even desirous to take away his 
life ; but the laws of God, whiish command sovereign princes to be 
respected, being deeply engraved on the hearts of our faithful sub- 
jects, restrained them, and engaged them to wait with patience, 
till the hand of God struck the important blow, and by his fall 
delivered an oppressed people. Under those circumstances, now 
laid before the impartial eyes of the public, it was, in fact, impos- 
sible but our soul should be troubled with those impending woes 
which threatened our country, and with that persecution which 
we, and our most dear son, the heir of the Russiaii throne, un- 
justly suffered ; being almost entirely excluded from the imperial 
palace ; in such sort, that all who had regard for us, or rather those 
who had courage enough to speak it (for we have not been able to 
find that there is one person who is not devoted to our interest), 
by expressing their sentiments of respect due to us, as their em- 
press, endangered their life, or at least their fortune. In fine, the 
endeavours he made to ruin us, rose to such a pitch, that they 
broke out in public ; and then charging us with being the cause 



314 APPENDIX. 

of the murmurs, which his own imprudent measures occasioned, 
his resolution to take away our life openly appeared. But being 
informed of his- purpose by some of our trusty subjects, who were 
determined to deliver their country, or perish in the attempt, rely- 
ing on the aid of the Almighty, ^we cheerfully exposed our person 
to danger, with all that magnanimity, which our native country 
had a right to expect in return for her affection to us. After hav- 
ing invoked the Most High, and reposed our hope in the divine 
favour, we resolved also either to sacrifice our life for our country, 
or save it from bloodshed and calamity. Scarcely had we taken 
this resolution, by the direction of favouring heaven, and declared 
our assent to the deputies of the empire, than the orders of the 
state crowded to give us assurances of their fidelity and submis- 
sion. 

It now remained for us, in pursuance of the love we bore our 
faithful subjects, to prevent the consequences which we appre- 
hended, in case of the late Emperor's inconsiderately placing his 
confidence in ihe imaginary power of the Holstein troops (for 
whose sake he stayed at Oranienbaum, living in indolence, and 
abandoning the -most pressing exigencies of the state), and there 
occasioning a carnage, to which our guards and other regiments 
were ready to expose themselves, for the sake of their native 
country, for ours, and that of our successor. For these reasons 
we looked upon it a^ a necessary duty towards our subjects (to 
which we are immediately called by the voice of God), to prevent 
so great a misfortune, by prompt and proper measures. There- 
fore, placing ourselves at the head of the body-guards, regiments 
of artillery, and other troops in and about the imperial residence, 
we undertook to disconcert an iniquitous design, of which we were 
as yet only informed in part. 

But scarcely were wo got out of the city, before we received two 



APPENDIX. 315 

letters from the late Emperor, one quick on the heels of the other. 
The first by our Yice-Cl^ncellor, the Prince Gallitzin, entreating 
us to allow him to return to Holstein, his native dominions ; the 
other by Major-General Michael Ismailof, by which he declared, 
that of his own proper motion, he renounced the crown and throne 
of Russia. In this last, he begged of us to allow him to withdraw 
to Holstein, with Elizabeth Vorontzof and Gudovitch. These two 
last letters, stuffed with flattering expressions, came to our hands 
a few hours after he had given orders for putting us to death, as 
we have been since informed, from the very persons who were ap- 
pointed to execute thoje unnatural orders. 

In the mean time, he had still resources left him, which were to 
arm against us his Holstein troops, and some small detachments 
then about his person; he had also in his power several personages 
of distinction belonging to our court ; as he might, therefore, have 
compelled us to agree to terms of accommodation still more hurt- 
ful to our country (for after having learned what great commo- 
tions there were among the people, he had detained them as 
hostages at his palace of Oranienbaum, and our humanity would 
never have consented to their destruction ; but, to save their lives, 
we would have risked a part of those dangers revived by an ac- 
commodation), several persons of high rank about our person re- 
quested us to send him a billet in return, proposing to him, if his 
intentions were such as he declared them to be, that he should 
instantly send us a voluntary and formal renunciation of the 
throne, wrote by his own hand for the public satisfaction. Major- 
General Ismailof carried this proposal, and the writing he now 
sent back was as follows : 

*' During the short space of my absolute reign over the empire 
of Russia, I became sensible that I was not able to support so 
great a burden, and that my abilities were not equal to the task 

N 



316 APPENDIX. 

of governing so great an empire, either as a sovereign, or in any 
other capacity whatever. I also foresaA'^^he great troubles which 
must have thence arisen, and have been followed with the total 
ruin of the empire, and covered me with eternal disgrace. After 
having, therefore, seriously reflected thereon, I declare, without 
constraint, and in the most- solemn manner, to the Russian empire, 
and to the whole universe, that I for ever renounce the govern- 
ment of the said empire, never desiring hereafter to reign therein, 
either as an absolute sovereign, or under any other forni of govern- 
ment ; never wdshing to aspire thereto, or to use any means, of 
any sort, for that purpose. As a pledge of which, I swear sincerely, 
before God and all the world, to this present renunciation, written 

and signed this 29th of June, 1762, 0. S. 

" Peter.'' 

It is thus, without spilling one drop of blood, that we have as- 
cended the Russian throne, by the assistance of God, and the 
approving suffrages of our dear country. Humbly adoring the 
decrees of Divine Providence, we assure our faithful subjects, that 
we will not fail, by night and by day, to invoke the Most High to 
bless our sceptre, and enable us to wield it for the maintenance of 
our orthodox religion, the security and defence of our dear native 
country, and the support of justice; as well as to put an end to 
all miseries, iniquities, and violences, by strengthening and for- 
tifying our heart for the public good. And as we ardently wish 
to prove effectually how far we merit the reciprocal love of our 
people, for whose happiness we acknowledge our throne to be 
appointed, we solemnly promise, on our imperial word, to make 
such arrangements in the empire, that the government may bo 
endued with an intrinsic force to support itself within limited and 
proper bounds ; and each department of the state provided with 
wholesome laws and regulations, sufficient to maintain good order 
therein at all times, and under all circumstances. 



APPENDIX. 317 

By which means we hope to establish hereafter the empire and 
our sovereign power (however they may have been formerly weak- 
ened) in such a manner as to comfort the discouraged hearts of all 
true patriots. We do not in the least doubt but that our loving 
subjects will, as well for the salvation of their own souls, as for 
the good of religion, inviolably observe the oath which they have 
sworn to us in the presence of the Almighty God ; we thereupon 
assure them of our imperial favour. 

Done at St. Petersburg, July 6, 1762. 



No. II. 



Declaration published by the Empress Catherine II., upon recalling 
Count Bestuchef Riumin from his banishment in Siberia. 

The most ordinary understanding cannot be ignorant of the 
intimate obligation which all mankind contract towards God and 
towards each other, to transgress on no occasion whatever the de- 
mands of justice, and especially not to heap misfortunes and 
oppression on the head of the innocent. 

Ere we mounted our imperial throne of Kussia, we were well 
acquainted with the long and signal services rendered to this em- 
pire by the unfortunate, but irreproachable Count Bestuchef Riu- 
min. Her public decrees of the 27th of February, 1758, induced 
us to presume, that the crime which had drawn upon him so severe 
an animadversion on the part of our dear aunt, the Empress Eli- 
zabeth, must have been very heinous ; but the second manifesto, 
of the 6th of April, 1759, which contained a vague detail of the 
crimes attributed to him, and whereof none were specified, obliged 
US to suspend our judgment, and led us to suspect, that the indig- 



318 APPENDIX. 

nation of that humane sovereign, and the vengeance to which she 
had been brought, were no more than the effects of calumny and 
intrigue ; for the contents of this second manifesto related not to 
a malefactor, but to an oppressed man condemned beforehand. 

From our natural humanity we have thought fit to soften the 
severity of the sentence, to pardon the guilty, rather than to leave 
in oblivion the services which the said Count Bestuchef rendered 
during so many years to our empire, and to let him (which would 
have been still more blamable) terminate his days in an ignomi- 
nious exile. 

As soon, therefore, as Providence placed the sceptre in our hands, 
submissive to the emotions of our sensibility, and to the voice of 
justice, we have recalled from his exile that old and faithful ser- 
vant of our empire ; but, not ignorant of our readiness to hearken 
to the dictates of justice, he, presenting himself before us, has 
humbly implored the permission to make his innocence appear to 
our eyes, a permission which we granted him with all our heart ; 
and, after having specified the intrigues and the calumnies, which 
appeared to us authenticated, and clearer tlian light, he excited 
in our heart the most lively compassion. We experienced at the 
same time a tender satisfaction, on perceiving that the liberty to 
which we restored him, was in perfect agreement with that love 
of order and justice, by which we commenced our reign. 

His example has convinced us, that the more weighty the accu- 
sation, the more severe ought the examination to be, as without 
this precaution, sentence of condemnation may fall upon an inno- 
cent person. Granting that our very dear aunt, the Empress 
Elizabeth, had, to our knowledge, and to that of the whole world, 
great intelligence and sagacity ; nevertheless, as no one is infallible 

the affair of Count Bestuchef took a turn highly 

disadvantageous to the honour of our dear aunt 



APPENDIX. 319 

For these reasons, desirous of restoring the lustre of her name, 
and the virtues which guided her reign, and to prove how much 
we cherish her memory, and to fulfil with exactitude the duty of 
every Christian, as becomes a mother of the country, we have 
thought ourselves obliged to declare solemnly, that the said Count 
Bestuchef of Riumin was deserving, in the highest degree, of the 
confidence of our deceased aunt, &c 

Given at St. Petersburg, this 13th of August, 1762. 



No. III. 



Translation of a letter from the Empress of Russia, to M. d'Alem- 
bert, at Paris, wJiom she Jiad invited into Russia to educate Tier 
son. 

M. D'Alembert, 

I have just received the answer you wrote to Mr. Odart, in 
which you refuse to transplant yourself, to assist in the education 
of my son. I easily conceive that it costs a philosopher, like you, 
nothing to despise what the world calls grandeur and honour : 
these, in your eyes, are very little ; and I can readily agree with 
you that they are so. Considering things in this light, there would 
be nothing great in the behaviour of Queen Christina [of Sweden], 
which has been so highly extolled ; and often censured with more 
justice. But to be born and called to contribute to the happiness, 
and even the instruction, of a whole nation, and yet decline it, is, 
in my opinion, refusing to do that good which you wish to do. 
Your philosophy is founded in a love to mankind : permit me then 
to tell you, that to refuse to serve mankind, whilst it is in your 



320 APPENDIX. 

power, is to miss your aim. I know you too well to be a good 
man, to ascribe your refusal to vanity. I know that the sole 
motive of it is, the love of ease, and leisure to cultivate letters, 
and the friendship of those you esteem. But what is there in this 
objection? Come, with all your friends; I promise both them 
and you, every conveniency and advantage that depends upon me ; 
and perhaps you will find more liberty and ease here, than in your 
native country. You refused the invitation of the King of Prussia, 
notwithstanding your obligations to him ; but that prince has no 
son. I own to you, that I have the education of my son so much 
at heart, and I think you so necessary to it, that perhaps I press you 
with too much earnestness. Excuse my indiscretion for the sake 
of the occasion of it : and be assured that it is my esteem for you 
thatmakes me so urgent. Catherine, 

Moscow, Nov. 13, 1762. 

In this whole letter I have argued only from what I have found 
in your writings ; you would not contradict yourself. 



No. IV. 

A letter from M. Be Voltaire, to the Russian ambassador at Paris. 

I SEE by the letters which her Imperial Majesty and your Excel- 
lency honour me with, how greatly your nation is rising, while I 
am afraid that, in some respects, ours is beginning to degenerate. 
The Empress deigns, herself, to translate that chapter of Belisa- 
rius, which some college-fellows traduce at Paris. We should be 
overwhelmed with shame and scorn, if all the men of worth, of 
whom there is a great number in France, did v.-h strongly stand 



APPENDIX. 821 

up against the egregious scandal of the times. Folly, ignorance, 
and envy, there will alwaj^s be in any country; but then there 
will also be in it science and good taste. I dare even aver to 
you that, in general, our principal military, and, as to what con- 
cerns the counsel, our counsellors of state, and the masters of re- 
quests, are more enlightened than they were in the shining age 
of Louis the Fourteenth. Great talents are still rare ; but science 
and reason are more common than then. 

I see with pleasure, that there is forming in Europe an immense 
republic of cultivated understandings. The light diffuses and 
communicates itself on all sides. I have things come to me from 
the north, that astonish me. Within these last fifteen years, there 
has been operated a revolution in the human understanding, that 
will form a great epoch. The outcries of the pedants proclaim 
the approach of this great change, as the croaking of the crows 
forebodes fair weather. 

I know nothing of the book of M. de la Riviere, which you do 
me the honour of mentioning to me ; but can hardly believe that 
the author, while avoiding the faults into which M. de Montes- 
quieu may have flillen, has gone beyond him in those points in 
which that shining genius is in the right. I shall send for his 
book ; and in the mean while congratulate the author on his being 
80 near such a sovereign and empress, who patronizes all the 
talents in foreigners, and whose maternal care gives birth to them 
in her own dominions. But it is you whom I especially congratu- 
late, on representing her so worthily at Paris. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 



322 APPENDIX. 

No. V. 

Extract of a letter from Catherine 11. , to M. De Voltaire. 
Sir, 
The brightness of the northern star is a mere aurora horealis. 

It is nothing more than giving to a neighbour something of our 
own superfluity. But to be the advocate of human kind, the de- 
fender of oppressed innocence ; by this you will be indeed immor- 
talized. The two causes of Galas and Sirven have procured you 
the veneration due to such miracles. You have combated the 
united enemies of mankind, superstition, fanaticism, ignorance, 
chicane, bad judges, and the power lodged in them, all together. 
To surmount such obstacles, required both talents and virtue. 
You have shown the world that you possess both. You have 
catried your point. You desire, sir, some relief for the Sirven 
family. Can I possibly refuse it ? Or, should you praise me for 
the action, would there be the least foundation for it? I own to 
you, that I should be much better pleased if my bill of exchange 
could pass unknown. Nevertheless, if you think my name, un- 
harmonious as it is, may be of any service to those victims of the 
spirit of persecution, I leave it to your discretion ; and you may 
announce me-, provided it be no way prejudicial to the parties. 

Catherine. 



No* VI. 

The manifesto concerning the rebellion of Pugatschef. 

By the grace of God, we Catherine II., Empress and Autocratrix 
of all the Kussias, &c., make knovra to all our faithful subjects, 



APPENDIX. 323 

that we have learnt, with the utmost indignation and extreme 
affliction, that a certain Cossack, a deserter and fugitive from the 
Don, named Ikhelman Pugatschef, after having traversed Poland, 
has been collecting, for some time past, in the districts that border 
on the river Irghis, in the government of Orenburg, a troop of 
vagabonds like himself; that he continues to commit in those 
parts all kinds of excesses, by inhumanly depriving the inhabit- 
ants of their possessions, and even of their lives ; and that in order 
to draw over to his party, hitherto composed of robbers, such 
persons as he meets, and especially the unhappy patriots, on whose 
credulity he imposes, he has had the insolence to arrogate to him- 
self the name of the late Emperor Peter III. It would be super- 
fluous here to prove the absurdity of such an imposture, which 
cannot even put on a shadow of probability in the eyes of sensible 
persons : for, thanks to the divine goodness, those ages are past, 
in which the Russian empire was plunged in ignorance and bar- 
barism ; when a Griska, an Outreper, with their adherents, and 
several other traitors to their country, made use of impostures as 
gross and detestable, to arm brother against brother, and citizen 
against citizen. 

Since those eras, which it is grievous to recollect, all true patriots 
have enjoyed the fruits of public tranquillity, and shudder with 
horror at the very remembrance of former troubles. In a word, 
there is not a man deserving of the Russian name, who does not 
hold in abomination the odious and insolent lie by which Pugat- 
schef fancies himself able to seduce and to deceive persons of a 
simple and credulous disposition, by promising to free them from 
the bonds of submission, and obedience to their sovereign, as if 
the, Creator of the universe had established human societies in 
such a manner as that they can subsist without an intermediate 
authority between the sovereign and the people. 



324 APPENDIX. 

Nevertheless, as the insolence of this vile refuse of the human 
race is attended vrith consequences pernicious to the provinces 
adjacent to that district ; as the report of the flagrant enormities 
which he has committed, may affright those persons who are ac- 
customed to imagine the misfortunes of others as ready to fall 
upon them, and as we watch with indefatigable care over the 
tranquillity of our faithful subjects, we inform them by the present 
manifesto, that we have taken, without delay, such measures as 
are the best adapted to stifle the sedition. 



No. VII. 



Manifesto of the Empress of all tJie Russias, relative to the partition 

of Poland. 

I, Michael Krechetnikof, general in chief, senator, general 
governor of Tula, Kaluga, and the countries newly annexed from 
the Polish republic to the Russian empire, commander of all the 
armies there, &c., hereby make known, by the supreme will and 
command of my most gracious sovereign, her Imperial Majesty of 
all the Russias, to all the inhabitants, in general, of the countries 
now united for ever to the Russian empire, from the Polish 
republic : 

Her Imperial Majesty has hitherto taken, in the afiairs of Poland, 
a part that has always been tending to the interest of both empires. 
It has not only been unsuccessful, but proved a fruitless burden ; 
arid her endeavours to maintain peace and freedom, among her 
neighbours, have been attended with innumerable losses. 

Thirty years of experience has evinced it, in the numerous 
internal disputes which ha\e distracted the Polish republic. Her 



APPENDIX. 325 

Imperial Majesty has viewed their sufferings, in the countries and 
cities bordering on her empire, with great compassion, considering 
them as descended from the same race, and professing the holjr 
Christian religion. 

Even at this moment, some unworthy Poles, enemies to their 
country, have not been ashamed to approve the government of the 
ungodly rebels, in the kingdom of France, and to request their 
assistance to involve their country also in bloody civil wars. 

The true Christian religion, and the well-being of the inhabit- 
ants of the above-mentioned countries, would suffer from the 
introduction of such detestable doctrines, which tend to annihilate 
all the bonds of society, to overthrow all safety, property, and 
prosperity. These enemies of peace, following the detestable plan 
of the mob of rebels in France, propagate their doctrines through- 
out Poland to the utmost of their power, which would destroy 
for ever their own and their neighbours' happiness. 

From these considerations, her Imperial Majesty, my most 
gracious mistress, as well to indemnify herself for her many losses, 
as for the future safety of her empire, and the Polish dominions, 
and for the cutting off, at once, for ever, all future disturbances, and 
frequent changes of government, has been pleased now to take 
under her sway, and to unite for ever to her empire, the following 
tracts of land, with all their inhabitants ; namely, a line beginning 
at the village of Druy, on the left bank of the river Dvina, at the 
corner of the border of Semigallia ; thence extending to Neroch 
and Dubrova, and following the border of the voivodeship of Yilna, 
to Stolptsa, to Nesvij, and then to Pinsk ; and thence passing 
Kunish, between Viskero and Novegreble, near the frontier of 
Gallicia ; thence to the river Dniester ; and, lastly, running along 
the river, till it enters the old border of Russia and Poland, at 
Yergetic : in such manner, that all the cities and countries within 



326 APPENDIX. 

this line of demarcation, the new border of Russia and Poland, 
shall henceforward, for ever, come under the sceptre of the Rus- 
sian empire, and the inhabitants, of all ranks whatever, be subjects 
thereof. 

I, being appointed by her Imperial Majesty governor-general of 
these countries, by her supreme order have to certify, in her sacred 
name, and in her own words, to all her Imperial Majesty*s new 
subjects, and now my beloved countrymen, that her most gracious 
Majesty is pleased, not only to confirm and insure to all, the free 
and public exercise of their religion, and full security of property 
and possession, but to unite and to assimilate them under her 
government, for the fame and glory of the whole Russian empire ; 
an example of which is to be seen in her faithful subjects, the 
inhabitants of White Russia, now living in full peace and plenty 
under her wise and gracious dominion. Further, that all and every 
one of them shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of her old 
subjects ; and that from this day, every denomination of the inha- 
bitants enters on the full participation of these benefits through 
the whole extent of the Russian empire. 

Her Imperial Majesty expects, from the gratitude of her new 
subjects, that they, being placed by her bounty on an equality with 
Russians, shall in return transfer the love of their former country 
to the new one, and live, in future, attached to so great and gene- 
fous an empress. ' 

I, therefore, now inform every person, from the highest to the 
lowest, that, within one month, they must take the oath of alle- 
giance before the witnesses whom I shall appoint; and if any of 
the gentlemen, or other ranks, possessing real or immovable pro- 
perty, regardless of their own interest, should refuse to take the 
oath prescribed, three months are allowed for the- sale of their 
immovables, and their free departure over the borders ; after the 



APPENDIX. 327 

expiration of which term, all their remaining property shall be 
confiscated to the crown. 

The clergy, both high and low, as pastors of their flocks, are 
expected to set the example in taking the oath ; and in the daily 
service in their churches, they must pray for her Imperial Majesty, 
for her successor, the great duke, Paul Petrovitch, and for all the 
imperial family, according to the form which shall be given them. 

In the above-mentioned solemn assurance concerning the free 
exercise of religion and undisturbed possession of property, it is 
understood, that the Jews living in these countries united to the 
Russian empire, shall remain on the former footing, protected in 
their religion and property ; for her Majesty's humanity will not 
permit them alone to be excluded from the benefits of her kind- 
ness, under the protection of God ; so long as they continue to live 
in peace, and pursue their trades like faithful subjects, law and 
justice shall be administered, in the name of her Imperial Majesty, 
in the proper places, with the utmost strictness and equity. 

I have further thought it needful to add, by order of her Impe- 
rial Majesty, that the troops shall, as in their own country, be 
under the strictest discipline. Their taking possession, therefore, 
of the various places, and changing the government, should not in 
the least alter the course of trade or living ; for the increase of 
the happiness of the inhabitants, in all parts, is the intention of 
her Imperial Majesty. 

This manifesto shall be read in all the churches, on the 27th of 

this present month of March, registered in all the municipal books, 

and nailed up in proper places, for the general information ; and 

that full credit may be given to it, I have, in consequence of the 

powers intrusted to me, signed it with my hand, and affixed to it 

the seal of my arms, at the head-quarters of the army under my 

command, at Polonna. 

(Signed) M. Keechetnikof. 



328 APPENDIX. 



No. vin. 



Manifesto published by the Court of St. Petersburg, on occasion of 
the assassination of Prince Ivan. 

Br the grace of God, we Catherine the Second, Empress and sove- 
reign of all the Rassias, &c., to all whom these presents may 
concern. 

When, by the divine will, and in compliance with the ardent 
and unanimous desires of our fiiithful subjects, we ascended the 
throne of Russia, we were not ignorant that Ivan, son of Anthony, 
Prince of Brunswic-Wolfenbuttle, and the Princess Anne cf Meck- 
lenburgh, was still alive. This prince, as is well known, was, 
immediately after his birth, unlawfully declared heir to the 
imperial crown of Russia ; but, by the decrees of Providence, he 
was soon after irrevocably excluded from that high dignity, and 
the sceptre placed in the hands of the lawful heiress, Elizabeth, 
daughter of Peter the Great, our beloved aunt of glorious memory. 
After we had ascended the throne, and offered up to heaven our 
just thanksgivings, the first object that employed our thoughts, in 
consequence of that humanity that is natural to us, was the un- 
happy situation of that prince, who was dethroned by the Divine 
Providence, and had been unfortunate ever since his birth ; and 
we formed the resolution of alleviating his misfortunes, as far as 
was possible. We immediately made a visit to him, in order to 
judge of his understanding and talents, and, in consequence 
thereof, to procure him an agreeable and quiet situation, suitable 
to his character and the education he had received. But how 
great was our surprise, when, besides a defect in his utterance, 
that was uneasy to himself, and rendered his discourse almost 
unintelligible to others, we observed in him a total privation of 



APPENDIX. 329 

sense and reason I Tho?e who accompanied us during this inter- 
view, saw how much our heart suffered at the view of an object 
so fitted to excite compassion ; they were also convinced that the 
only measure we could take to succour the unfortunate prince, 
was to leave him where we found him, and to procure him all the 
comforts and conveniences that his situation would admit of. We 
accordingly gave our orders for this purpose, though the state he 
was in prevented his perceiving the marks of our humanity, or 
being sensible of our attention and care ; for he knew nobody, 
could not distinguish between good and evil, nor did he know the 
use that might b« made of reading, to pass the time with less 
weariuess and disgust : on the contrary, he sought after pleasure 
in objects that discovered, with sufficient evidence, th^ disorder of 
his imagination. 

To prevent, therefore, ill-intentioned'^ersd^s from giving him 
any trouble, or from making use of his name or orders to disturb 
the public tranquillity, we gave him a guard, and pla,ced about his 
person two officers of the garrison, in whose fidelity and integrity 
we could confide. These officers were Captain Ylassief and Lieu- 
tenant Tschekin, who, by their long military services, which had 
considerably impaired their health, deserved a suitable recom- 
pense, and a station in which they might pass quietly the rest of 
their days ; they were accordingly charged with the care of the 
prince, and were strictly enjoined to let none approach him. 
Yet all these precautions were not sufficient to prevent an aban- 
doned profligate from committing at Schlusselburg, with unparal- 
leled wickedness, and at the risk of his own life, an outrage, whose 
enormity inspires horror. A second lieutenant of the regiment 
of Smolensk©, a native of the Ukraine, named Basil Mirovitch, 
grandson of the first rebel that followed Mazeppa, and a man in 
whom the perjury of his ancestors seems to have been infused 



330 APPENDIX. 

with their blood ; this profligate, having passed his days in de- 
bauchery and dissipation, and being thus deprived of all honoura- 
ble means of advancing his fortune ; having also lost sight of what 
he owed to the law of God, and of the oath of allegiance he had 
taken to us ; and knowing Prince Ivan only by name, without any 
knowledge either of his bodily or mental qualities ; took it into his 
head to make use of this prince to advance his fortune at all 
events, without being restrained by the consideration of the bloody 
scene that such an attempt was adapted to occasion. In order to 
execute this detestable, dangerous, and desperate project, he de- 
sired, during our absence in Livonia, to be upon guard, out of his 
turn, in the fortress of Schlusselburg, where the guard is relieved 
every eight days ; and the 15th of last month, about two o'clock in 
the morning, he all of a sudden called up the main guard, formed 
it into a line, and ordered the soldiers to load with ball. Bered- 
nikof, governor of the fortress, having heard a noise, came out of 
his apartment, and asked Mirovitch the reason of this disturbance, 
but received no other answer from this rebel than a blow on the 
head with the butt-end of his musket. Mirovitch, having Avounded 
and arrested the governor, led on his troops with fury, and at- 
tacked with fire-arms the handful of soldiers that guarded Prince 
Ivan. But he was so warmly received by those soldiers under the 
command of the two ojficers mentioned above, that he was obliged 
to retire. By a particular direction of that Providence that 
watches over the life of man, there was that night a thick mist, 
which, together with the inward form and sitiA.tion of the fortress, 
had this happy effect, that not one individual was either killed or 
wounded. The bad success of this first attempt could not engage 
this enemy of the public peace to desist from his rebellious pur- 
pose. Driven on by rage and despair, he ordered a piece of 
cannon to be brought from one of the bastions, which order was im- 



APPENDIX. 331 

mediately executed. Captain Vlassief and his lieutenant Tsche- 
kin, seeing that it was impossible to resist such a superior force, 
and considering the unhappy consequences that must ensue from 
the deliverance of a person that was committed to their care, and 
the effusion of innocent blood that must follow from the tumults 
it was adapted to excite, took, after deliberating together, the only 
step that they thought proper to maintain the public tranquillity, 
which was to cut short the days of the unfortunate prince. Con- 
sidering also, that if they set at liberty a prisoner, whom this 
desperate party endeavoured to force with such violence out of 
their hands, they ran the risk of being punished according to the 
rigour of the laws, they assassinated the prince, without being 
restrained by the apprehension of being put to death by a villain 
reduced to despair. The monster (Mirovitch), seeing the dead 
body of the prince, was so confounded and struck at a sight he 
so little expected, that he acknowledged, that very instant, his 
temerity and his guilt, and discovered his repentance to the troop 
which about an hour before he had seduced from their duty, and 
rendered the accomplices of his crime. 

Then it was, that the two officers, who had nipped this rebellion 
in the bud, joined with the governor of the fortress, in securing 
the person of this rebel, and in bringing back the soldiers to their 
duty. They also sent to our privy counsellor Panin, under whose 
orders they acted, a relation of this event, which, though unhappy, 
has nevertheless, under the protection of Heaven, been the occa- 
sion of preventing still greater calamities. This senator despatched 
immediately Lieutenant-Colonel Kaschkin, with sufficient instruc- 
tions to maintain the public tranquillity, to prevent disorder on the 
spot {i. e., where the assassination was committed), and sent us, 
at the same time, a courier, with a circumstantial account of the 
whole affair. In consequence of this, we ordered Lieutenant- 



332 APPENDIX. 

General Veymarn, of the division of St. Petersliurg, to take tho 
necessary informations upon tlie spot ; this he has done, and has 
sent us accordingly the interrogatories, depositions, and the con- 
fession of the villain himself, who has acknowledged his guilt. 

Sensible of the enormity of his crime, and of its consequences 
with regard to the peace of our country, we have referred the 
whole affair to the consideration of our senate, which we have 
ordered, jointly with the synod, to invite the three first classes, 
and the presidents of all the colleges, to hear the verbal relation 
of General Veymarn, who has taken the proper informations ; to 
pronounce sentence in consequence thereof; and, after that sen- 
tence has been signed, to present it to us for our confirmation of 
the same. 

The original is signed by her Imperial Majesty's own hand. 

Catherine. 



No. IX. 

Letter of Frederic the Great to Catherine 11. 

Madam, my Sister, 

I must begin by thanking your Imperial Majesty for the favour 
you have conferred upon me in the communication of your work 
on legislation. Permit me to say, that it is a business which has 
had but few examples in the world ; and I may venture to add, 
madam, that your Imperial Majesty is the first empress, who has 
made such a present as that which I have just now received. The 
ancient Greeks, who were all appreciators of merit, in their deifi^ 
cations of great men, assigned the first place to legislators, whom 



APPENDIX. 333 

tlioj deemed the true benefactors of the human race. They 
would have placed your Imperial Majesty between Lycurgus and 
Solon. 

I made it my first duty, madam, to read the excellent Avork 
which your Majesty has vouchsafed to compose ; and, that I might 
keep my mind free from all prepossession, I considered it as com- 
ing from a well known pen. I confess to you, madam, that T was 
charmed, not only with the principle of humanity and gentleness 
that gives birth to these laAvs, but also with the order, with the 
association of ideas, with the uncommon clearness and precision 
that reign in this work, and the immense variety of knowledge 
disseminated throughout. 

I put myself, madam, in your place, and I immediately perceived 
that every country demands particular considerations, which re- 
quire the legislator to comply with the genius of the nation, in 
the same manner as the gardener accommodates himself to his 
soil. There are designs which your Imperial Majesty is satisfied 
with pointing out, and on which your prudence prevents you from 
insisting. In a word, madam, though I am not thoroughly 
acquainted Avith the genius of the people whom you govern with 
so much glory, I see enough of it to persuade me, that if they 
govern themselves by your laws, they will be the happiest nation 
in the world ; and since your Imperial Majesty is desirous of 
knowing all that I think on that matter, I deem it a duty incum- 
bent on me to tell it naturally. 

It is, madam, that good laws, formed on the principles that you 
have traced out, will require lavfyers for their being put in execu- 
tion, in your vast domains ; and I think, madam, that, after the 
good you have just been doing in legislation, ^'ou have another 
boon to grant, which is, the institution of an academy of law, 
for the education of persons designed for the bar, as well judges 



334 APPENDIX. 

as advocates. However simple the several laws may be, cases of 
litigation, cases complicated and obscure, will arise, in which it 
will be necessary to draw up truth from the well, which require 
expert advocates and judges to unravel them. 

This, on my honour, is all that I have to say to your Imperial 
Majesty, unless it be, madam, that this estimable monument of 
your labour and your activity, with which you condescend to trust 
me, shall be preserved as one of the choicest pieces in my library. 
Were there anything, madam, capable of augmenting my admira- 
tion, it would be the benefit you have herein bestowed upon your 
immense people. 

Accept, with your accustomed goodness, the assurances of the 
high consideration with which I am, 
Madam, my sister, 

Your Imperial Majesty's good brother and ally, 

(Signed) Frederic. 



No. X. 



A Catalogue of CatJierine^s presents to her favourites. 

Babies. 
The five brothers Orlof, received 45,000 pea- 
sants ; in lands, palaces, jewels, plate, and money 17,000,000 



Vissensky, officer of the guards, about two 
months in favour . . . . . 300,000 



Vassiltchikof, simple lieutenant of the guards, 
received in the twenty-two months that he was 
in favour as follows : 



APPENDIX. 



335 



RuWes. 



An estate 


with 7000 peasants upon it, esti- 




mated at . 




600,000 


In money 




100,000 


In jewels 




60,000 


In plate 




50,000 


A palace furnished . . . . . 


100,000 


A pension 


of 20,000 rubles per annum, nearly 


. • 200,000 




Total, 1,100,000 



The order of St. Alexander Nefsky. 

Prince Potempkin received, in the two first 
years, ahout nine millions. 

He afterwards accumulated immense riches. 
He had great estates in Poland, and in all the 
provinces of Kussia. One of his hook-cases was 
full of gold, diamonds, and notes of the hanks of 
London, Amsterdam, and Venice. His fortune 
was estimated at . . . . . 

Zavadosky received, in eighteen months, lands 
in Poland with 2000 peasants, in the Ukraine 
with 6000, and in Russia with 1800. These es- 
tates were estimated at 

He received in money 

In plate . . . ♦ . . • 

In jewels 

In a pension on the cabinet, of 10,000 rubles a 
year, 



The ribbon of the white eagle of Poland. 



50,000,000 



1,000,000 

150,000 

50,000 

80,000 

100,000 
Total, 1,380,000 



3^50 



APPENDIX. 



Zoritch received in one year, the ribbon of the 
order of the sword of Sweden, and that of the 
■white eagle of Poland. 

An estate in Poland, of .... 

One in Livonia, of fifty haaks 

A commandery in Poland, produced 12,000 
rubles yearly, valued at .... . 

In money 

In jewels ....... 



Eubles. 



500,000 
100,000 

120,000 
500,000 
200,000 



Total, 1,420,000 



Korsakof received in sixteen months, the rib- 
bon of the white eagle of Poland, the palace of 
Vassiltchikof, repurchased for him 

An estate with 4000 peasants 

In money and jewels 

The liquidation of his debts . 

To fit him out for travelling . 

Gratification while on his travels 



Lanskoi received in estates or money 
In diamonds . . . • 

To pay his debts .... 
A palace valued at . . , 



100,000 
400,000 
150,000 
100,000 
100,000 
70,000 

Total, 920,000 



3,000,000 

80,000 

80,000 

100,000 

Total, 3,260,000 



Moreover, his sister and his cousin were ad- 
mitted into the number of maids of honour to 
the Empress, and received many presents not 
brouffht into the account. 



APPENDiy. 337 

RuWes. 
Termolof received in sixteen months, the rib- 
bon of the white eagle of Poland. 

An estate valued at 100,000 

Another with 3000 peasants .... 300,000 

In money . . . ..... . 150,000 



Total, 550,000 



Momonof received in. twenty-six months, in 

estates . 600,000 

In money .... . . 200,000 

In jewels . . . . . . 80,000 



Total, 880,000 



Plato Zubof was decorated with the title of 
prince, and with several ribbons, and appointed 
Grand-Master of the artillery. He received large 
estates in Kussia, in Poland, and in Courland. 
His .fortune, exclusive of movables and jewels, 
amounts to about 100,000 per annum, and con- 
sequently valued at 2,500,000 

His movables and jewels . . . . 200,000 



Total, 2,700,000 



Valerian Zubof received great sums in money, 
estates in Poland and in Courland, and a pension 
of 12,000 rubles, payable in gold. The whole 
may be estimated at 800,000 



838 APPENDIX. 



Rubles, 



To these gifts must be added the expenditure 
of the favourite, estimated at 1,250,000 rubles 
per annum, which, during the thirty-four years 
of the reign of Catherine II., amounts to . . 8,500,000 



Sum total, 92,820,000 



OCT 20 ml 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



029 997 558 7 










